LPG marketers bat for stricter safety standards

MANILA, Philippines - A party-list group has urged the Department of Energy and local government engineers to check the growing use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pipelines in privately-owned property development projects.

In a statement, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association (LPGMA) said the DOE should check and ensure that these utilities comply with strict safety standards.

“Bonifacio Global City and other emerging mixed-use enclaves have built underground pipeline networks that provide centralized cooking gas distribution systems. Regulators should make sure these installations are absolutely safe,” LPGMA Rep. Arnel Ty said.

Preliminary findings of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) showed that the May 31 explosion at Two Serendra condominium building at the BGC was caused by an LPG blast.

Bonifacio Gas Corp., a joint venture between Fort Bonifacio Development Corp and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., is the developer and supplier of piped-in gas for BGC establishments.

Ty also pushed for the approval by Congress of the LPG Regulation and Safety Act, which has been approved by the 55-member House trade and industry committee during the 15th Congress.

The bill sets comprehensive and rigorous standards for the safe storage, refilling, distribution, transportation and consumption of LPG.

Under the bill, every LPG installation, including underground pipelines, must obtain a new standard compliance certificate before it can be put to use.

“There is nothing wrong with underground LPG piped installations, as long as these are built according to adequate safety standards, and consumers are informed of the proper use of the gas,” he said.

He said many world-class urban districts already run on piped gas networks. He noted that in America, some homes use underground pipes for the delivery of natural gas.