Bill requires gas stations to have generator sets

CEBU, Philippines —  Taking note that the Philippines is vulnerable to natural calamities, Cebu City South District Representative Eduardo “Edu” Rama Jr. is looking into requiring gasoline stations to have generator sets for emergency use.

Rama filed House Bill 6199 or "An Act Requiring Gasoline Stations to Install and Maintain Functioning Emergency Generator Sets and Providing Penalties for Non-Compliance thereof". This also seeks to provide penalties for non-compliance with the proposed drafted law.

"The Philippines is vulnerable to all types of natural calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. Their occurrences cause loss of lives and property, serious social and economic disruptions and loss of livelihoods and services, including fuel services provided by gasoline stations," read Rama's explanatory note.

Rama experienced this first hand, being under one of the badly hit areas during the typhoon Odette.

It’s been almost a year since the said typhoon with Cebu City and the rest of the Cebu island left with no power, scarce water supply, poor to no network connectivity and closure of major establishments including gasoline stations.

This experience prompted Rama to file such a proposed measure.

"Nakatampo ang atoang kasinatian atol niadtong Odette last year but this bill goes to all gasoline stations in the country, especially since we are very prone to natural calamities," added Rama.

The Cebuano legislator emphasized that emergency backup power generation in gasoline stations would assure its operational capability and prevent long lines due to power outages.

Days after the devastation of typhoon Odette, long queues of vehicles were noticed on the public roads in Cebu lining up to get fuel at gasoline stations.

Even as the Department of Energy assured the public that there was enough supply of fuel at that time, most of the gasoline stations were closed due to no power or no generator sets to temporarily operate pumping machines.

At present, an emergency gen set is not included. Among the requirements to operate a gasoline station are set under Republic Act 8479 or the Downstream Oil Deregulation Act of 1998.

That will no longer be the case if the bill is enacted into law.

Under the proposed bill, DOE, which will be the implementing agency, will have the power to suspend the operation of any gasoline stations for failure to comply.

Section 3 of the proposed bill also proposes penalties for owners of gasoline stations for the failure of installing and maintaining emergency gen sets.

"Any gasoline station owner who fails to install emergency generator sets within the prescribed period shall pay a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P200,000 and any gasoline station owner who fails to maintain emergency generator sets shall pay a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P100,000."

The bill is currently pending before the House Committee on Energy with Rama hoping that this will be attended to immediately. — GMR (FREEMAN)