QC task force to re-inspect gas stations

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday the city task force on weights and scales will conduct a second round of inspections to determine which among the over 100 gasoline stations has the most number of violations, which will be the basis for its permanent closure.

"If only to make it an example to others, we will definitely not hesitate to close the most blatant violator," Belmonte said.

He stressed, however, that closure will not be arbitrary and owners will be given the chance to explain their side. Under the local tax code, gas stations with defective pumps faces a fine of P400 for the first offense and P800 for the second offense.

Belmonte said if a station is caught for the third time, the city government would initiate moves to close down the station.

Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista said while the tax code is silent on administrative sanctions against erring gas stations, the city council, which grants special permits to for them to operate, has the power to revoke these permits to pave the way for the closure of an establishment.

"The city council will provide the legislative support to Mayor Belmonte to crack down on erring gas stations," Bautista told The STAR.

The crackdown initiated by Belmonte on erring gas stations has elicited a nationwide reaction, with Malacañang, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other agencies coming out with directives in connection defective gasoline pumps.

Belmonte said a routine check on gas stations conducted by a special task force found 44 gas stations with defective pumps.

"Selling gas products is an advance industry using high tech equipment, but we were surprised to find 44 violators among the more than 100 gas stations," the mayor said.

The city government has collected more than P 200,000 in fines from the erring stations.

As a result of the crackdown, station owners have trooped to Quezon City Hall to request for calibration of their pumps. Calibration conducted by the city government costs only P20 per pump.

City Treasurer Dr. Victor Endriga said the city government would be coming out with stickers to be posted at gas stations with calibrated pumps. The move will inform motorists which gas stations have accurate pumps.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila Mayor’s League spokesman and Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad urged lawmakers to consider imposing stiffer penalties on erring ga stations.

"Fines and imprisonment for such a short period of time is not enough for cheaters," Trinidad said in a phone interview.

Stations operators found involved in deceptive sales through tampered or defective pumps are penalized P400 in fines or a maximum of one year imprisonment, according to the Consumer’s Act.

Trade officials said this law has not been revised since it creation decades ago.

Local government units that issue business permits to stations also have discretion to impose their respective penalties.

Trinidad said he has created a special task force that would check on the 17 gas stations all over the city in coordination with the trade and energy departments.

As of press time, two stations have been warned for defective pumps.

"Of course, we should also consider that some stations aren’t really aware that some of their pumps are defective, but we should be extra careful about this," he said.

Petron Gas Station Lauded

In line with efforts to ensure the proper calibration of fuel pumps in Quezon City, Endriga said the city government will soon award Susan Calalay, owner of a Petron service station along Tomas Morato and Timog Avenue. The award will be given to Calalay for having the most "accurate dispensing pumps" with tests on all pumps showing zero variance on the calibration bucket.

"It would be my privilege to receive such an honor since it affirms our commitment to protect consumer welfare. I am certain that my fellow dealers also practice the daily calibration of fuel pumps, since adherence to such standards is the norm at all Petron service stations," she said.

Endriga recently conducted "on-the-spot" testing at the said service station and even commended Calalay for having a sign at the station assuring the public that "all pumps are calibrated daily."

He also clarified that four of the five Petron stations cited in newspaper reports alleged to be "under-selling" should not have been included since they passed the calibration tests. Only one Petron station was found to have problems with calibration. All in all, the City Treasurer’s Office conducted tests in almost 50 gas stations in Quezon City.

Calalay added that Petron’s standard operating procedure requires all dealers to calibrate pumps daily while a third party contractor also inspects the pumps on a regular basis.

To avoid under-filling, dispensing pumps are "sealed" by the city government, in effect guaranteeing that the pump is not tampered with. If the variance at the pump is beyond the limit, then Petron dealers are required to call service contractors to adjust the calibration and inform the LGUs to re-seal the dispensing pump.

For its part, Petron assured the motoring public that it had sent out several teams to check its other service stations and protect the welfare of motorists.

"We are taking these reports seriously and if we find that any of our dealers are remiss, we may revoke their dealerships," Petron public affairs manager Virginia Ruivivar said.

Under the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Retail Standards, service stations are allowed a variance of up to minus 50 ml. per 10 liters or 1/2 of one percent. Any number beyond this range is considered illegal. — With Edu Punay