Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS:

Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILLNO.__9483

Introduced by Honorable Anthony Rolando T. Golez, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Retail fuel prices are at an all-time high in the Philippines. Motorists and commuters
are severely affected by it. Businessmen and professional, who rely on the fast movement of
products and goods, face a hindrance in the continuously rising fuel prices. The problem of
high fuel prices is compounded by the devious acts of filling stations that do not have
properly calibrated fuel pumps. Retail fuel consumers do not get their money's worth when
the fuel pumps serving them are not properly calibrated.

A fuel pump not properly calibrated will always dispense a volume of fuel not
Proportionate to what a consumer paid for. The State should see to it that this will not
happen and that the country should have a dynamic trade environment that is just and fair to
both business and consumers.

This representation believes that the proposed measure shall insure that all filling
‘stations in the country will all have their fuel pumps calibrated regularly. Regular fuel pump
calibration shall ensure that the consumers will get what they paid for. This representation
‘also believes that the Local Government Units, in coordination with the Department of Energy,
should be empowered to closely monitor the filling stations in their respective

‘The bill also provides for penalties that will make sure that filling station operators and
owners will no longer resort to defrauding the consuming public with unfair machinations.
The proposed law likewise contains a provision penalizing government officials, who connive
with owners or operators of filling stations, allow the operation of non-calibrated fue! pumps.

Approval of the bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _54 83

Introduced by Honorable Anthony Rolando T, Golez, Jr.

“AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE REGULAR CALIBRATION
OF FUEL PUMPS IN ALL FILLING STATIONS
AND IMPOSING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION
THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. This act shall be known as the "Fue/ Pumps Calibration Act’

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall ensure that consumers will aptly
be protected from fraudulent schemes of unscrupulous businessmen who resort to unfair
practices just to earn profit. The State shall encourage a dynamic trade environment that is
just and fair to both consumers and businessmen.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. The following terms, as used in this Act, shall
mean:

a) “Filling Station” refers to a service station that sells fuel and other fuel products.
It shall also refer to gas stations, petrol stations, LPG stations and other similar service
stations.

b) “Fuel Pump” refers to a machine at a filling station that is used to pump or
dispense gasoline, diesel, CNG, CGH2, HCNG, LPG, LH2, ethanol fuel, biofuels, biodiesel,
kerosene, or other types of fuels in vehicles.

Cc) “Calibration” refers to the act of checking or adjusting, by comparison with a
standard, the accuracy of fuel pumps in filling stations.

d) “DOE” — refers to the Department of Energy.

e) “DILG” — refers to the Department of Interior and Local Government.


f) “OP” — Office of the President.
g) “LGU” — Local Government Unit.

Section 4. Regular Calibration. A\\ fuel pumps in ail filling stations in the Philippines
shall be inspected and calibrated twice a month. The calibration shall be conducted and
Monitored by the respective LGUs where the filling station is located. It shall be unlawful for
any owner or operator to run filling stations with an inaccurate or not properly calibrated fuel
pump.

Section 5. Inspection and Calibration Tag. After a fuel pump is inspected and
calibrated, the inspector shall place a non-removable tag or seal on the calibration knob or
points. When the next inspection or calibration date comes, the tag shall be removed and
replaced after the inspection or calibration has been made. The inspection or calibration tag
shall not be removed or tampered with by any person. Only the officer of the LGU tasked
with the inspection or calibration of the fuel pumps shall have the authority to remove the
tag.

Section 6, DOE and DILG Coordination. The DOE shall coordinate with the DILG in
training officers of each LGU for the inspection and calibration of fuel pumps in all filling
stations in the Philippines.

Section 7. Penalties.

A. Without prejudice to criminal prosecution for violation of the Revised Penal Code,
whenever applicable, any operator or owner, operating filling stations with an inaccurate or
not properly calibrated pumps, shall be penalized as follows:

1) First Offense — Fine of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P 20,000.00).

2) Second Offense — Fine Forty Thousand Pesos (P 40,000.00) and Suspension of
Business Permit to operate for three (3) months;

3) Third Offense — Fine of Eighty Thousand Pesos (P 80,000.00), Closure of Business
and Imprisonment of One (1) year.

B. Without prejudice to criminal prosecution for violation of the Revised Penal Code,
whenever applicable, any person, who removes or tampers an inspection or calibration tag
without any authority shall be penalized with imprisonment of Six (6) months and a fine of
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00)

C. Without prejudice to criminal prosecution for violation of the Revised Penal Code,
whenever applicable, any officer of an LGU, the DOE, the DILG, who connives with any
Person in allowing a filling station to operate with an inaccurate or not properly calibrated
fuel pump, shall be penalized with imprisonment of One (1) year, perpetual disqualification
from holding @ public office and a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00).


Section 8. Jurisdiction. A\l cases arising from or related to any violation of this Act
‘shall be brought before the proper Municipal Trial Court or Circuit Court, which shall dispense
the case swiftly.

Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Energy,
Department of Interior and Local Government and the Office of the President shall issue the

necessary implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of
this Act.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. A\| \aws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and
rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Separability Clause. If for any reason, any section or provision of this
Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be
affected hereby.

Section 12. &ffectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect after its complete
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED,