Reyes to sanggunians: Pass LPG safety device ordinance
Cagayan de Oro City (28 January) -- INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Angelo T. Reyes recently enjoined city and municipal mayors and their sanggunians to enact a resolution or an ordinance, requiring owners of business establishments in their respective localities to install safety devices on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-powered appliances and machineries.
Sec. Reyes made the call as he cited the mayor and city council of Quezon City for their efforts in enacting an ordinance mandating the installation of safety devices on LPG-powered appliances by business establishments.
Reyes said such a resolution or an ordinance would greatly help in ensuring the safety of users of LPG-powered appliances, even as he averred that many fire incidents were attributed to leaks in LPG tanks.
He said the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), one of the attached agencies under the DILG, had earlier recommended the installation of safety devices on LPG appliances that automatically stop the flow of gas in case of a leak in the tubing or piping between the regulator and burner.
Statistics from BFP showed that only last year, there was a total of 228 LPG fire-related incidents recorded.
"This is sad considering that this resulted in the loss of lives and properties, which could have otherwise been avoided had safety measures in LPG tanks been installed," the DILG secretary said.
The sangguniang panglungsod of Quezon City recently passed a resolution ordering business firms in the city to install safety devices or apparatus on their LPG tanks that would detect any leak in the tubing and piping between the regulator and burner as a requirement in the issuance or renewal of business permits.
The resolution further provides for penalties in case of violation, which include a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of not less than three months, non-renewal or revocation of business permits.
Likewise, the Quezon City government formed a composite team tasked to inspect and monitor compliance by business establishments in the city of said ordinance.
"Considering the significance of said ordinance as a preventive measure against the occurence of destructive fires, I urge sanggunians of other cities and municipalities to follow the example of Quezon City," Reyes said. (DILG-10/Ragcom) [top]
