DTI also probing laundry explosion

The Department of Trade and Industry will conduct a separate inquiry into the explosion inside Gene's Laundry Shop in Basak, Mandaue City that killed two persons and injured nearly 20 others.

Zaide Bation, chief of DTI Regulatory Division, said the inquiry is aimed at determining whether the liquefied petroleum gas tank that exploded inside the laundry shop passed their standard.

Bation said they already conducted an ocular inspection inside the wrecked laundry shop last week but failed to see the LPG tank.

"Actually, amo na giadto pero wala pa namo natan-aw ang LPG kay tua pa sa SWAT o pulis," said Bation, who was one of the quests during the Kapamilya Media Forum held last Friday at SM Entertainment Plaza.

However, Bation said they already inspected the other branch of the laundry shop along AS Fortuna Street in Banilad, Mandaue City and noticed that its LPG tanks passed the quality control.

Bation said they would also inspect other establishments using LPG tanks such as restaurants, malls and bars.

Aside from DTI, the Bureau of Fire Protection will also inspect all establishments that use LPG tanks.

For his part, Cebu City Fire Marshall Esmael Codilla assured the public that even before last week's incident, fire inspectors have already been monitoring those establishments that use LPG tanks.

"Sukad pa man g'yud sa una ato gyud isiguro nga ang mga commercial LPG tanks naa gyud sa gawas kay ang principle aning LPG tank kini nanginahanglan man gyud ni og proper ventilations," Codilla said.

Mandaue City Fire Marshall Oscar Mayol also said the Gene's Laundry Shop's branch along AS Fortuna violated certain regulations for placing its LPG tanks inside the shop.

"Out of seven laundry shops using LPG tanks usa ra gyud ang atong nasuta nga ang LPG tanks naa sa sud ang ug kini ang Gene's gihapon sa ilang AS Fortuna branch. Pero nalipay lang sab mi nga nituman sab dayon sila sa among rekomendasyon nga complete stoppage kun di sila mosubay sa recommendation," Mayol said. - Ramil V. Ayuman/LPM