The Provincial Board (PB) is set to form a task force in a bid to eradicate the rampant sale of petroleum products contained in bottles or the so called “bote-bote” fuels in small stores across towns in Bohol.

Board members on Friday last week filed a resolution appealing for the creation of the task force which will enforce Presidential Decree 1865 (Illegal Dale of Gasoline) in the province.

The task force will be comprised of personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Filing of the recommendation was a result of a meeting of the PB Committee of the Whole on December 6, 2016 which was also attended by members of the Department of Energy Visayas, Bohol PNP and BFP, Tagbilaran PCG and representatives from gasoline stations in the province.

For their part, the BFP and PNP will be tasked to also disseminate information on PD 1865 and identify stores that are selling bottled fuels.

In his committee report, Board Member Niño Rey Boniel noted that the sale of bottled petroleum products which he deemed dangerous remains rampant in various areas in the province.

Boniel also pointed out that these stores do not have permits to sell such products and are not paying taxes as these are illegal businesses. (Rey Tutas)