Tumulak refiles ban on refilling butane canisters

Councilor David Tumulak (left) shares a light moment with Councilor Hanz Abella in yesterday’s City Council session where he again pushed for the total ban on the manufacture, sale and distribution of butane-refilled canisters. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

A series of butane-related fires has prompted Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak to again push for the passage of an ordinance banning the manufacture, sale or distribution of refilled butane canisters which is considered to be an extremely dangerous business.

During their regular session yesterday, Tumulak once again asked members of the City Council to reconsider his measure which was first filed in 2014 but was relegated to the Committee on Laws for further study.

Tumulak said the committee had yet to render a report on his proposed ordinance which failed to find its way back to the Council when their last term ended.

Tumulak, chairman of the Council committee on public order and safety, reminded councilors that the practice of refilling butane canisters with Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) by backyard refilling stations was illegal and thus needed to be stopped.

“Refilling butane canisters with LPG will surely jeopardize the public safety of our consumers and is now a major issue that needs public awareness and should be addressed by the enactment of this ordinance,” Tumulak said yesterday.

Tumulak pointed out that butane and LPG do not have the same chemical components. Moreover, butane canisters are not suited for the gas pressure that comes from LPG.

“The prohibited act of refilling and forcing LPG on a butane canister may cause a leak that will lead to the emission of hazardous gases that can cause sudden explosion and fire,” Tumulak warned.

Since 2010, 44 butane-related fires were recorded in Cebu City with half of the incidents occurring last year when refilling butane canisters became a trend.

Based on the Philippine National Standards (PNS), only welded steel cylinders with a water capacity of up to 150 liters are intended to safely store LPG.

Butane usually comes in a 250 gram light portable tin canister which is not intended for refill.

Under the proposed ordinance, any person or entity who will manufacture, sell or distribute refilled butane canisters will be charged with fines ranging from P3,000 to P10,000.

Tumulak urged his colleagues in the council to submit written comments and suggestions on his proposed ordinance which again found its way yesterday to the Committee on Laws for further study.