SOME owners of LPG refilling stations, distributors and vendors of refilled butane canisters opposed a proposed ban on butane refills. They aired their sentiments the first public hearing of a proposed ordinance at the Lapu-Lapu city session hall.
Benjamin Militar, lawyer of Cebu Budget LP Gas Association, said that if a butane canister is properly refilled, it is safe to use.
“It only needs maybe a regulatory body to set guidelines for use. I am willing to sit down with the city council and discuss this,,” Militar said.
Jun Alforque, vice president of Cebu Province LPG Refillers Association, asked the Lapu-Lapu city government to guide them on how to continue their businesses without compromising public safety.
“Using refilled butane canisters is very practical and cheap. Many families can’t afford to buy an LPG tank. Hopefully, it won’t be banned,” Alforque said in Cebuano.
He said that using refilled butane canisters discourages the use of firewood, and thereby saves trees.
City Councilor Alexander Gestopa Jr., sponsor of the proposed ordinance, cited three fire accidents in the city caused traced to refilled butane canisters which left around 50 families homeless.
“If we are not going to do something to ban it, chances are more refilled butane canister-related incidents will continue to happen,” said Gestopa.
A final public hearing will be scheduled. Then the City Council will deliberate on the proposed ordinance.