The Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association (LPGMA) appealed Tuesday to Petron Corp. to help out its fellow oil giants in the transportation of cooking gas which has become virtually impossible due to the damage dealt by typhoon “Ondoy” in Region IV.

Reports reaching the LPGMA said that cooking gas supply is drying up in the areas of Batangas, Quezon, Laguna, Cavite and the Bicol region since Pilipinas Shell cannot get its cooking gas product (Shellane) out to customers.

The reason, according to LPGMA President Arnel Ty, is that two key bridges in Tabangao, Batangas where Shell keeps a terminal, were severely damaged by the typhoon and remain impassable.

“Totally wala nang mailabas na LPG products sa terminal ng Shell dahil sira na ang dalawang tulay sa lugar na iyon. Hindi na madaanan ng mabibigat na sasakyan,” Ty said.

Ty said that repair on one of the bridges could take two months while the other, more badly damaged one could take up to six months.

The official said the only solution is for Petron, which also has a terminal in Batangas, to agree to a product transfer with Shell and Total Philippines. Total gets its products from the same terminal as Shell and is considered a major LPG player.

“There’s no other solution but to let Shell transfer its products using barges to Petron’s terminal so that customers would still be able to buy Shellane,” explained Ty.

“Shell and Petron are currently negotiating but they don’t have a contract for product swapping.”

In the meantime, independent retailers comprising the LPGMA are trying to accommodate Shellane buyers in Metro Manila and northern Luzon to somehow ease the demand from down south.