PANGASINAN PROVINCE – The Department of Energy-Luzon Field Office (DOE-LFO) spearheaded the conduct of a Focused Inspection (FI) in the different municipalities and cities of Pangasinan from 22 to 26 July 2019, as part of the DOE’s stringent inspection and monitoring of the compliance of gasoline stations and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) establishments with national petroleum standards.
"The DOE will continue to conduct these activities to make sure that our consumers get nothing but quality liquid fuel products. Compliant retail outlets have nothing to fear. However, we will not hesitate to enforce the law against those who will refuse to uphold quality, quantity, and safety standards," Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi emphasized.
Composed of personnel from the Oil Industry Management Bureau, field offices, and the Energy Research and Testing Laboratory Services (ERTLS), the DOE team conducted the FI together with the representatives from the concerned local government units, the Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine National Police.
FIs were done in liquid fuel retail outlets (LFROs) and LPG establishments in Agno, Alaminos, Anda, Bolinao, Burgos, Mabini, Infanta, Dasol, Sual, Lingayen, Binmaley, Bugallon, Labrador, San Carlos City, Basista, Urbiztondo, Aguilar, Bayambang, Malasiqui, Santa Barbara, and Calasiao.
Of the total 145 gasoline stations inspected, the FI team found 132 to have committed violations of LRO regulations, with 55 of the inspected dispensing pumps declared "Out of Order" by the DOE due to underdelivery. The top three violations included operating without a Certificate of Compliance, operating without an appropriate test measure, and operating without any calibration record.
The DOE gathered 184 samples of gasoline and found 86 to have failed either the quality or quantity standards. On the other hand, all 88 samples of automotive diesel oil tested were found to be compliant.
Meanwhile, of the 78 LPG establishments and four LPG refilling plants inspected, 53 were found to have committed violations, which included operating without a Standards Compliance Certificate, selling LPG cylinders with inappropriate seals, and selling underfilled LPG cylinders.
All failed samples were brought back to the DOE-ERTLS laboratory for confirmation testing, which would be included in the final report being prepared by the DOE-LFO.
The DOE continues to assure the public that it will remain vigilant in ensuring that all LFROs and LPG establishments nationwide strictly adhere to all relevant laws and regulations.
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