CITING the need to ensure the protection of the interests and general welfare of the public, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) headed by Major General Leo Francisco has intensified its drive against manufacturers and sellers of illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) products.

The PNP-CIDG last week seized P25 million worth of sub-standard LPG products in Ilocos-Pangasinan region following a raid in Mapandan, Pangasinan.

Francisco said the raid at the Centurions LPG Refilling Station in Brgy. Nilombot, Mapandan was part of their intensified implementation of a directive from PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil to go after all illegal activities.

He added that they are investigating the owner of the raided establishment and her three employees.

Recovered during the raid were two trucks loaded with various LPG valves, hoses and gas pump equipment, two weighing scales, four LPG filling machines with filling heads, 47 green generic cylinder seals, assorted calculators, receipts, documents and ledgers, P32,540 cash and hundreds of LPG cylinder tanks with various brands.

The raid was triggered by a complaint from an authorized representative of the LPG Makers’ Association Inc. regarding the presence of the establishment engaged in the illegal sale and distribution of Regasco LPG cylinder tanks using substandard and un-requalified cylinders that pose hazards to consumers.

The PNP was also tasked with investigating potential criminal violations of the raided LPG hub either upon receiving a report or on its initiative.

This includes conducting surveillance, entrapment, filing search warrant applications, and initiating criminal actions against violators.

The passage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Industry Regulation Act (LIRA) has prompted the government to shift focus on consumer welfare and protection, where the DOE has prioritized quality, health, safety and environmental standards.

“The protection and safeguard of the consumers is our main priority. Together with the PNP, we will strictly enforce the LIRA with heightened monitoring and inspections of the industry,” Lotilla said.

As of end of 2023, around 15,000 business establishments in the LPG sector were issued with a license to operate.

The Department continues to accept and process applications for the issuance of permits to qualified LPG participants to stop the proliferation of illegal establishments and prevent irregular, deceitful and anomalous trade practices.

The DOE has also discouraged the so-called ‘bote-bote’ practice wherein petroleum products packed in recycled soda bottles are openly sold in the streets.

The government has also imposed penalties on underfilling, tampering and unauthorized decanting or refilling, among others and required all LPG industry players to engrave correct tare weight markings, serial number and distinctive collar on each LPG cylinder tank.

Violations of these provisions are subject to penalties of between P1,000 to P4,000 for each cylinder tank.

In 2022, authorities said that the household consumption of oil products in the Philippines amounted to about 14.1 million barrels, the majority of which were LPG which reached 13.72 million barrels.