DAVAO CITY — The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE), through its Energy Management and Development Services (EMDS) and in collaboration with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB), conducted a comprehensive two-day orientation on the downstream oil and natural gas industry on August 20-21, 2024 in Davao City.
This significant event brought together key industry stakeholders, government officials, and regulatory bodies to discuss the latest regulatory updates and explore the future of the downstream oil and natural gas sectors within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
DOE-OIMB Director Rino Abad delivered detailed presentations on Department Circular No. 2024-01-007 entitled “Adopting the Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry” covering several topics including, the Downstream Natural Gas Industry (DNGI), Liquefied Petroleum Gas Industry (LPGI), and the salient features of Department Circular 2022-11-0037 which prescribe guidelines on the registration and issuance of a license to operate (“LTO”) to qualified DOE-Regulated liquefied petroleum gas (“LPG”) Industry participants.
The orientation also featured a comprehensive discussion, which addressed important issues such as inspection protocols and regulatory compliance. Key points included the need for MENRE to engage in capacity-building and benchmarking to Oil and Natural Gas Industries. The partnership and collaboration with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Department of Energy (DOE) in ensuring safety and compliance protocols were also highlighted.
MENRE Minister Akmad A. Brahim concluded the orientation by expressing his appreciation for the active engagement and valuable contributions of all participants. He commended Director Rino Abad of the OIMB, who also chairs the Downstream Oil and Gas Development and Utilization Technical Working Group (DOGDU-TWG), for his remarkable efforts in empowering MENRE with essential skills and knowledge, as well as for the proactive IEC campaigns conducted across the region. Minister Brahim also emphasized the importance of applying the knowledge gained to enhance the safety, compliance, and sustainability of the downstream oil and natural gas sectors in BARMM.
“The past two days have deepened our understanding of the Downstream Oil and Natural Gas Industry. The knowledge shared and the collaborative spirit demonstrated have significantly strengthened our ability to manage these crucial sectors more effectively,” the Minister said.
Present at the event were MENRE Director General for Energy Nasiri B. Abas, Lanao del Sur Provincial ENRE Officer Asmarie M. Labao, DOE-Mindanao Field Office (MFO) Director Nilo Geroche, representatives from BFP-BARMM and MENRE Provincial Offices of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
