‘Only DOE inspectors can check gas pumps’

ONLY Department of Energy inspectors are allowed to check the calibration of gas pumps on gasoline stations.

Regional Director Antonio Labios of DOE Central Visayas (DOE 7) reminded the consumers group who claimed that some of the pumping machines of gasoline stations were set to “underdeliver” the volume paid by consumers.

Labios said that he appreciated the effort of the Consumers Right and Economic Welfare (CREW) but the DOE wouldn’t acknowledge any of its results.

“Only our inspectors are authorized to check the calibration in gasoline stations,” he said.

Labios also said that they couldn’t regularly check the calibration of gas pumps of gasoline station because of lack of personnel.

He said the Department of Energy had only six inspectors assigned to calibrate and assess the gas pumps of around 2,000 gasoline stations in the Visayas.

“We try to check all stations at least once a year,” Labios told reporters in a press conference yesterday in their office.

From January to September this year, DOE-7 collected at least P471,000 from P10,000 fines of administrative violations of gas stations.

Most of the violations are under delivery of gas and the lack of proper and precautionary signages in the station.

However, DOE-7 could not give the number of gas stations who violated their provisions as they still have to consolidate their data.  Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya