DOE to LGUs go after vendors of bottled gasoline

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) – Oil Industry Management Bureau is urging local government units (LGUs) to intensify operations against the retail of petroleum and diesel gas placed in bottles of softdrinks or commonly known as “bote-bote” gasoline.

Zenaida Monsada, director of DOE’s Oil Industry Management Bureau is pushing for LGUs to confiscate gasoline in bottles, which are commonly found in the provinces, and to take legal actions against these retailers.

Monsada said that gasoline placed inside one-liter bottles of softdrinks does not pass the quantity, quality and safety practice standards of the DOE.

Also, she stressed that stores selling bottled gasolines have no business permits, adding that this risks the safety of residents and properties in the vicinity.

Monsada pointed this out during the Downstream Oil Industry (DOI) Conference yesterday at the Crown Regency Hotel and Towers in Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City, where representatives of the different LGUs in Cebu were present.

The conference aimed to create awareness on the real mandate of DOE. “We wanted to clarify that DOE’s mandate is only for price monitoring and not to fix the price. Most of the time kung mosaka ang presyo sa oil, adto mangasuko ang mga tawo sa DOE and we would also wanted the LGUs to be aware of their roles (Most of the time, when the price of oil increases, people get mad at DOE. We would also want the LGUs to be aware of their roles),” said Monsada.

For one, Monsada stressed that the LGUs should regularly calibrate pump meters of gasoline stations in their respective areas of concern. This is a responsibility unknown to some LGUs, said Monsada, which is why the DOE will be conducting a separate seminar for LGUs on calibration so that they will know the standards set by DOE that should be followed by gasoline stations.

On the other hand, Monsada warned oil companies, especially the new players, who overcharge their customers. 

According to DOE regulations, gasoline stations that have oil prices not based on the ERB (Energy Regulatory Board) formula will be fined with P250,000 to P500,000 and up to six years imprisonment.

“We still have to undergo the due process as we also need to see if their price was really unreasonable or not depending on our investigation,” said Monsada. — (FREEMAN)