Local News: Most Gas Stations Don’t Have ECC
Most gasoline stations in Bacolod City have been found out to have no environment compliance certificate (ECC) which is a requirement for a business like this. This was discovered during the surprise inspection of gasoline stations conducted Friday by the team of Vice Mayor Thaddy Say-son.
He said, although gas station operators have paid for their business permits but remains pending due to their failure to present the required Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC).
However, according to the owners, it is not the operators who should apply for ECC but the gasoline company operating the stations based on their contract.
The group of Vice Mayor Sayson was able to inspect seven gasoline stations where one of them was discovered whose pump has under-delivery of more than 50 ml, which means in every liter of gasoline it pumps out, it is lesser by 50 ml.
Inspection of gas stations was delayed for two weeks because they had their calibration bucket calibrated in Iloilo.
Sayson said, with the inspection of gas stations, at least the motorists are assured that they are getting their money’s worth, at the same time, this is protecting the gasoline stations.
From the inspections they have conducted, only two gas pumps were found to have under-delivered although the difference was not very significant.
As of today, the city has inspected almost 25 gasoline stations with a total of 80 pumps in 3 inspections conducted.
In Bacolod City, there are 130 gas stations. Most of these gas stations are complying with the directive of the Department of Energy.
If the city can get an extra calibration bucket from the DOE, then the group will be divided into two teams, so they will be able to cover about 50 percent of the total gas stations.
According to Sayson, the inspection is the work of the City Treasurer but he has been appointed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia to coordinate with different departments to implement the inspection. If there were violations committed, it is the City Treasurer who will issue the corresponding notices and penalties.*
