QC, Parañaque crack down on gas stations

Manila, Philippines - The city governments of Que­zon and Parañaque enforced measures yesterday to ensure that gas stations in their respective areas of jurisdiction do not cheat their customers.

Mayor Herbert Bautista ordered yesterday the immediate closure of two fuel stations in Quezon City for maintaining defective fuel pumps and for operating without a business permit.

The city government learned that the two stations – one along Mindanao Avenue and the other in Barangay Greater Lagro – were allegedly operating illegally during a random inspection of gas pumps by the city treasurer’s office, led by Edgar Villanueva.

According to the inspection report, the two stations were reportedly short-selling their customers by continuing to operate defective fuel pumps.

Bautista ordered city administrator Victor Endriga to shut down the fuel stations until they repair their fuel pumps and get a business permit.

In Parañaque City, Mayor Florencio Bernabe ordered yesterday the calibration of all the pumps in 42 gas stations in the city to ensure their accuracy.

According to a statement issued by the city government, city treasurer Jesusa Cuneta ordered trained personnel from the license division to calibrate the gas pumps and collect P100 for every nozzle calibration.

The city government said the checking of pumps is usually done on a quarterly basis but “in some cases...it is conducted earlier upon request by gas station owners when variances are recorded in the mandatory daily tests made by gas station employees.” – Rhodina Villanueva, Aie Balagtas See