Duterte signs LPG bill into law

INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure regulating the domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry to ensure consumer protection against industry malpractices.

The Republic Act No. 11592 sets the best conduct and practices for all domestic industry players and institutionalizes the cylinder exchange and swapping program to allow consumers to purchase any LPG cylinder brand of their choice.

It also establishes an LPG Cylinder Improvement Program to ensure that unsafe cylinders will be immediately taken out of circulation and replaced with new ones to decrease LPG-related explosions and fires significantly.

The Department of Energy (DOE) will be the primary agency tasked to implement the new law, where it will regulate, supervise and monitor the LPG industry and all industry participants.

The new law also provided penalties for prohibited acts.

LPG is widely used for various purposes such as heating, lighting, cooking daily by four in 10 Filipino households and even for fuel for motor vehicles.