Fast-tracked LPG ‘swapping’ rules challenged

The National LPG Alliance of the Philippines Inc. (NLAP) raised concerns over what it termed a rushed and illegal push to approve guidelines governing liquefied petroleum gas swapping centers, warning that fast-tracking the policy could harm consumers.

NLAP president Jose Cruz III strongly criticized the proposed timeline following a 30 July meeting of the National Program Policy Task Force at the Department of Energy (DoE), where officials met with DoE-recognized LPG industry associations to discuss the latest draft guidelines for cylinder swapping centers.

"Rushing approval of LPG swapping center guidelines is illegal and anti-LPG end-consumers," Cruz said.

The meeting was chaired by Atty. Rino E. Abad, director of the DoE's Oil Industry Management Bureau.

Abad argued that the guidelines should be approved before directing regional task forces to supply specific operational details, saying prior consultation with regional sectoral leaders was unnecessary.

"The principle is in accordance with the law," Abad said. "There is no need to consult it to RPITF. This is really what the law said. The implementation should be downloaded to RPITF on how they will do it."