The Bacolod City Council has approved a resolution requesting Mayor Greg Gasataya to investigate possible fuel contamination and strictly enforce an existing ordinance that mandates the calibration and sealing of dispensing pumps in all retail outlets within the city.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., chairperson of the City Council committee on human rights, highlights the importance of ensuring accurate fuel measurement and preventing impurities.
Gamboa noted that the city has an existing Ordinance 601, Series of 2012, which prescribes the “calibration and sealing of dispensing pumps of liquid petroleum products retail outlets in the City of Bacolod imposing fees in the registration, sealing of dispensing pumps, providing penalties in violation thereof, and for other purposes.”
According to the ordinance, all fuel dispensing pumps in the city must be regularly examined and spot-checked to ensure compliance with regulations. Gamboa explained that controlling fuel contamination through proper sealing and calibration protects consumers from overcharging and under-dispensing, saving them from significant fuel loss while upholding safety standards and fuel efficiency.
Ordinance 601 applies to all businesses engaged or intending to engage in the retail of liquid petroleum products in the city. It provides comprehensive regulations for calibration and sealing of dispensing pumps, including fees and penalties.
Gamboa emphasized that strict implementation of the ordinance ensures accurate fuel measurement, which not only safeguards consumers’ vehicle performance and safety but also prevents financial losses among fuel retailers caused by inaccurate dispensing.
Amid the Middle East tensions causing a sudden rise in fuel prices, Gamboa added that the call for strict enforcement of the calibration and sealing ordinance ensures that every liter delivered is accurately measured and free from impure contamination. He described this as not just a regulatory duty but a moral obligation as well.
