DTI urges stricter rules for retail of petro products

DTI urges stricter rules for retail of petro products

By Venus G. Villanueva, Tuesday 2nd of October 2012

KALIBO, Aklan, October 2 (PIA6) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here recently recommended to the Sangguniang Bayan of Kalibo the strengthening of the town’s rules and regulations involving establishments retailing liquid petroleum products.

The DTI, through Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr. gave this recommendation during the Committee on Energy hearing of the council which tackled the ordinance proposed by SB Member Ariel Fernandez.

Cadena emphasized the regulations should not only strongly focus on the putting up of information signs in retail outlets such as reminding customers to turn off their cellphones or engines while their vehicles are being fueled, the use of proper containers and other safety signs recommended by the Department of Energy, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and other government agencies but the municipality should also ensure that outlets retailing fuels should not be near other businesses that are high-risks like bars, convenient stores and others.

This is to keep the public from danger, said Cadena.

Cadena’s recommendation was also bolstered in the same hearing by an employee of a gasoline station in Kalibo who told the body that putting off of cellphones or avoiding texting while vehicles are fueled is important, because cellphones have static effects on the gasoline which could cause fire or explosion.

For these recommendations, the Kalibo Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO), through its head Engr. Marlo Villanueva, gave the assurance that the LGU has restrictions imposed on business establishments regarding compatibility.

Villanueva added however that the law also allows establishments to put up structures alongside incompatible ones, but they are subject to apply for deviation and will have to appeal to the Local Zoning Board of Adjustments abd Appeal (LZBAA) which in turn will be examined rigidly. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)


Diosdado Cadena Jr.