GOTCHA: The DOE-VFO and PNP-CIDG composite team are loading the P2.7M worth of confiscated products from the illegal LPG-refilling plant caught in a raid last night (8 Sept.) in Mandaue, Cebu.

(Mandaue, Cebu). In a move to weed out illegal LPG refilling plants in the market, the Department of Energy-Visayas Field Office (DOE-VFO) together with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) raided Friday night (8 Sept.) a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) refilling station located in Mandaue, Cebu following a tip of irregularities in its operations.

Initially, the composite team of the DOE-VFO and PNP- CIDG confiscated the following equipment and items:  3 bullet tanks (2 of which with a 2-ton capacity and one 4-ton capacity); 40 50-kg cylinders; 1 250-kg tank; 4 canister refilling machines; 1 Sealing Machine; 68,000 empty canisters; 16,000 LPG-filled canisters which has an estimated value of P2.7M; 3 air compressors; 1 sealer machine; and a van being utilized for the alleged illegal operations.

This comes on the heels of the #EPowerMoVisayas on 7 September 2017 where Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi highlighted the commitment of the DOE to tighten consumer protection under the DOE's E-Safety Mo campaign against illegal peddling of petroleum products, including LPG-filled/refilled canisters.

The campaign targets the so-called “bote-bote” or reselling of liquid petroleum products using unauthorized containers.

The alleged owner of the illegal refilling station Douglas Labra, has been detained for further investigation and questioning.

The confiscated items will be sent to a storage facility in Naga owned by the Cebu Provincial Government while the investigation is ongoing.

The DOE is working in close coordination with the Provincial Government of Cebu following its ordinance to eliminate illegal activities in the downstream oil industry under its jurisdiction.

The DOE encourages consumers to report illegal activities concerning the energy sector, particularly in the oil and power sectors, and not to patronize illegal and unsafe practices.

Meanwhile, on the price monitoring function of the DOE on oil trading in the international market and its effects on the domestic prices of petroleum products (as mandated by the Oil Deregulation Law of 1998), the DOE observed that last week’s international oil trading may affect the domestic prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene as follows:

Gasoline may increase by around P0.40 per liter;

Diesel may increase by around P1.05 per liter; and,

Kerosene may increase by around P0.80 per liter.

Adjustments on petroleum products are implemented every Tuesday of the week. These findings may still be affected by the Friday trading activities which will be accessed on Monday.

The public may contact the DOE-Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office at 479-2900 loc. 329 or e-mail through the info@doe.gov.ph for consumer welfare concerns. The public may also reach the Department through the Official DOE Facebook (fb//doe.gov.ph) and Twitter pages (doe_ph)

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