The Bacolod Business Permits and Licensing Office confiscated sacks full of butane canisters from 13 stores selling them without permits during an inspection at the Burgos Public Market on Thursday, Dec. 28.
Out of 20 stores they inspected together with the City Legal Office, 13 were caught selling butane canisters in violation of City Ordinance 885.
BPLO Inspection Team Leader Reah Rom said most of the stores at the Burgos Market do not have Mayor’s Permits, which can be a basis for recommending their closure.
There are also some who have Mayor’s Permits but do not have a permit to sell butane canisters.
City Ordinance No. 885 or the “Anti LPG refilled canisters of Butane Ordinance” aims to ensure the safety of end-users and the buying public by prohibiting the sale of LPG-refilled canisters of butane and penalizing the refillers.
The ordinance, which was authored by former Councilor Sonya Verdeflor on March 6, 2019, added that it is unlawful for any person or entity to perform the refilling of LPG into a canister previously filled with butane or not registered or approved by the Bureau of Philippine Standards;
Distribute and transport, by any means of transportation, any LPG in a canister, or from a known refiller of LPG into a canister, and retail LPG in a canister previously filled with butane or in a canister not approved by the said agency.
It added that violators will be fined P3,000, which shall be paid to the City Treasurer’s Office within 24 hours from the time of apprehension during office days.
Rom added that another inspection will be conducted after New Year’s Day in coordination with the Burgos Market Supervisor Cherry Aujero.*