21/09/2026
NLAP PRESIDENT JOJO CRUZ URGES CONSUMER VIGILANCE AMID IMPENDING LPG PRICE HIKE AND SUPPLY CRISIS
METRO MANILA, September 21, 2026 — The National LPG Alliance of the Philippines Inc. (NLAP) today issued a stark warning to Filipino households and businesses to brace for an impending surge in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices, urging the public to remain highly observant against market exploitation and unsafe industry practices during this volatile period.
NLAP President Jose "Jojo" Cruz III officially called on the public to monitor their LPG purchases closely as global supply chain pressures threaten to drive up domestic retail costs.
"Nanawagan tayo sa mga consumers na maging vigilant sa pagharap sa napipintong crisis sa produktong LPG," Cruz stated. "Whenever there is a spike in prices, it is the ordinary Filipino family who bears the brunt. More concerning is that during these price shocks, opportunistic entities and genuine 'illegalistas' take advantage of the crisis to cheat consumers through underfilling and unsafe decanting."
To protect households from being shortchanged during the anticipated price hike, NLAP advises all consumers to strictly observe the following precautions:
Weigh Your Cylinders: Always request the delivery personnel to weigh the 11-kg cylinder in your presence using a calibrated scale.
Check the Seals: Ensure that the safety seal is intact, unbroken, and explicitly matches the brand of the cylinder.
Beware of "Bote-Bote": Do not compromise safety by purchasing illegally refilled single-use butane canisters, which pose severe explosion and fire hazards.
Buy from Legitimate Independents: Support community-based, legitimate independent dealers who comply with safety standards but offer competitive pricing against monopolistic giants.
NLAP warned that the impending price crisis is frequently weaponized by large corporate monopolies to squeeze out independent refillers under the guise of regulatory compliance, ultimately leaving consumers with fewer choices and higher localized prices.
Through its Consumer Protection Group, NLAP is actively mobilizing its legal and monitoring teams across the country to track unnatural price spikes and coordinate with the Department of Energy (DOE) and local government units to ensure that independent players are not unfairly targeted during this economic strain.
"We will not allow this crisis to be used as a smokescreen to abuse the consuming public or to crush fair trade in the LPG sector," Cruz added. "NLAP stands ready to defend the consumers' right to safe, properly weighed, and fairly priced LPG."
Consumers who encounter underfilled cylinders, tampered seals, or abusive pricing are encouraged to report the incident directly to their local barangay desk or through NLAP’s official consumer protection channels.
# # #
About NLAP:
The National LPG Alliance of the Philippines Inc. (NLAP) is a premier sectoral organization dedicated to safeguarding the rights of LPG consumers, promoting public safety, and defending the operational rights of legitimate independent LPG dealers and refillers against monopolistic industry practices.
