CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Department of Energy (DOE) pushes for a safer distribution and sale of liquefied petroleum gas products as it conducts a nationwide campaign for the information dissemination and implementation of Republic Act No. 11592, or the LPG Industry Regulation Act (LIRA), through its two-day Regional LPG Summit, June 13–14.

LIRA, a law passed in 2021, establishes a regulatory framework for the safe operation of liquefied petroleum gas and delineates functions for various government agencies to ensure that the provision is properly implemented.

"Itong batas na ito nakalagay doon 'yung mga roles ng iba’t-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno together with the LGU kung papaano maisasaayos further ang pagnenegosyo ng LPG so correspondingly merong nakalagay na fines and penalties," DOE Retail Market Monitoring and Special Concern Division Chief Loralai Capistrano said.

(This law states the roles of various government agencies together with the LGU on how to further regulate the LPG business, so correspondingly, there are fines and penalties)

In addition to penalties, the energy department aims to put a halt to illegal LPG refilling and distribution by individuals through this law to keep consumers safe and allow them to return cylinders to their rightful companies.

Illegal refilling station penalties are between P25,000 and P100,000 and may be charged criminally with imprisonment of six to twelve years for the first offense.

The DOE urges the local government units to implement the rules and regulations strictly to assure that LIRA is properly observed, such as revocation or suspension of business permits for those who violate the law and others.

With the implementation of the law, consumers are assured that the LPG that they will be purchasing is safe, of exact weight, and has passed the Philippine standard required for manufacturing, distributing, and reselling LPG products.

The DOE encourages the public to report any illegal activities done in line with the selling, refilling, and distributing of LPGs in their communities. Complaints may be sent via the Department of Energy Philippines Facebook page or email to the DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau at rabad@doe.gov.ph or lcapistran o@doe.gov.ph. (JAKA/PIA-10)