QC govt closes 2 gas stations

The Quezon City government has ordered the temporary closure of at least two gasoline stations due to violations of local ordinances, a report from GMA News TV's News To Go said Thursday morning. The report said the local government issued a closure order against Flying V along Mindanao Avenue because its permit to operate has not been renewed for a year. "Ito pong mga gasoline station na ito ay nag-ooperate na walang Mayor’s Permit para sa gasoline at saka sa diesel pump nila. Meron lamang po silang permit na mag-operate dito sa kanilang LPG," city administrator Victor Endriga said. According to Endriga, the management of the gas station said they are still applying for a Mayor’s Permit for their gasoline and diesel pumps because the station was previously owned by another oil company before Flying V took over it. But Endriga insisted that a gas station must not operate even if it is just applying for a permit.

The TV report also said that the Flying V gas station also had violations in the past due to pump defects. City Treasurer Edgar Villanueva said the gas station has received two violation notices but it has not yet addressed such violations. Meanwhile, another gas station was also given a closure order due to pump defects. A dzBB radio report said the local city government has also ordered the closure of a Chevron gas station in Barangay Greater Lagro. According to the radio report, authorities have discovered defective pumps of the station's Gold/Premium gas. For every liter of gas loaded to a vehicle, about 150 milliliters is reportedly lost. The gas station also lacks a Mayor’s Permit, the report said. Under the city’s own ordinances, gas stations with pump defects will pay a fine of P2,000 on the first offense, P5,000 on the second offense, and a permanent closure will be imposed on the third offense. City Mayor Herbert Bautista has ordered the inspections of gas stations in the city in order to protect gas consumers amid rising oil prices, Endriga said. He added that unlike other local government units that inspect gas stations annually, the QC government conducts inspections and calibrations every three months. — Emmanuel Louis Bacani/RSJ, GMA News