3 LPG refilling station employees killed in industrial explosion in Ilocos Sur

MANILA – Three workers of an LPG refilling station were killed and two others were injured in an industrial explosion in Barangay Paing, Bantay, Ilocos Sur.

This disaster at a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage tank is “preventable,” said House Deputy Minority Leader and LPG-MA Rep. Arnel Ty in a news release.

“If we are to avoid the loss of more lives as a result of preventable LPG-related disasters, Congress should now pass new legislation meant to build up compliance with and enforcement of highly improved safety standards,” Ty said.

“Both the House and the Senate should not wait for more catastrophic LPG blasts in industrial, commercial, and residential settings. Otherwise, we will have blood on our hands,” he warned.

Police identified the fatalities as Renato Paet of Bantay, Moises Gadut of Vigan City, and Cesar Espiritu of San Fabian, Pangasinan, Ty said.

The two other casualties — Reden Alporo and Pablo Bermudez — are still in the hospital, but have since been declared out of danger, he said.

The victims were all employees of the refilling station that did not have the mandatory license to operate and standard compliance certificate from the Department of Energy. The facility also lacked other basic approvals, including a permit from the Bureau of Fire Protection, according to the municipal government.

Using a crane, the victims were trying to transfer a loaded LPG storage tank for repairs when the lifting machine accidentally dropped the pressurized container, the police said.

The proposal

House Bill 756 mandates comprehensive and rigorous standards meant to ensure the safe storage, refilling, distribution, transportation, and consumption of LPG.

“The holdup in the passage of the bill has put public safety at grave risk, including the security of whole neighborhoods where illegal LPG refillers have multiplied,” Ty said.

“Under the stringent safety standards of HB 756, only fully trained and accredited technicians and servicemen may lawfully perform any LPG-related repairs,” he pointed out.

The Bantay, Ilocus Sur tragedy was the deadliest LPG disaster since the 31 May 2013 explosion at Two Serendra in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, which killed three people and seriously injured a tenant.

It also came about only a few days after an LPG household cylinder flare-up at the Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila injured 42 persons. The June 2 blast also set off a blaze that swept through a row of homes.

The Ilocos Sur industrial accident was also the second in recent months involving an illicit cooking fuel refilling post. A truck loaded with LPG cylinders exploded inside a shifty refilling station in Barangay Tejero, General Trias, Cavite last year. –InterAksyon.com