‘Stop using refillable butane canisters’

FILLED and empty canisters were seized in Barangay Pandac, Pavia, Iloilo on October 5, 2018. The sale of these canisters containing LPG violates Presidential Decree 1865 or Illegal Trading of Petroleum Products.

THE Department of Energy (DOE) has called on the public, particularly here in Western Visayas, to stop using refillable butane canisters.

Rodela Romero, Assistant Director of DOE’s Oil Industry Management Bureau, made the call during the “Power 101” seminar in Iloilo City on Wednesday.

In a follow-up interview, Romero said refillable butane canisters are commonly used in Visayas and Mindanao, particularly by students who are staying in dormitories and boarding houses.

Refillable butane canisters are being used by students because these are affordable.

But she said that the canisters are hazardous and endangers lives and properties.

“Do not sacrifice or compromise your safety. If these butane canisters are already used up, they should not be refilled. You should dispose them immediately,” she said.

According to Romero, butane canisters are for one-time use only and are not designed for LPG or liquefied petroleum gas.

“This would cause explosion if refilled (with) LPG,” she said.

Romero said they are closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies, like the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to check and apprehend vendors refilled canisters.

“They are confiscating (them) if they find out that they are trading refillable butane canisters,” she said.

Aside from the use of refillable butane canisters, Romero said they also continue to monitor the illegal sale of liquid fuels in “bote-bote” or cola bottles, jugs, and other portable containers anywhere in Visayas.

She said they are continuously receiving reports about this practice, especially in areas with no access to gasoline stations.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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