LAMITAN CITY, Basilan — The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE), through the Energy Management and Development Services (EMDS) and the Provincial Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy Office (PENREO) Basilan, successfully conducted a two-day Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign on September 25-26, 2024. The event focused on promoting compliance with the MENRE regulations and raising public awareness about policies governing the retailing of liquid fuels and the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry.
In her message, PENRE Officer Marietta R. Ladjiman emphasized the importance of regulations in maintaining industry standards, proper licensing, and penalties to protect consumers and businesses. She also acknowledged the crucial involvement of key agencies and urged gasoline station owners, fuel distributors, and LPG industry players to participate actively.
“Your participation is vital as we work together to strengthen and ensure the sustainability of these sectors in Basilan. I encourage you all to actively engage in the discussion and make the most of this opportunity to collaborate and learn,” she said.
Engr. Moammer A. Tabara, Chief of the Energy Utilization and Management Division of MENRE-EMDS, further underscored the campaign’s significance in assisting local businesses to adhere to DOE regulations, with Engr. Abdulkahar C. Usop of MENRE discussing the current state of the downstream oil and gas industry in the region. Representatives from LGU Basilan and BFP Basilan shared insights on business permits, licensing, and fire safety standards.
MENRE Memorandum Circular No. 2 and No. 5 adopting the DOE Department Circular No. 2017-11-0011 Promulgating a revised Rules and Regulations Governing the Business of Retailing Liquid Fuels and DOE DC No. 2022-11-0037 Guidelines on the Registration and Issuance of License to Operate (LTO) to Qualified DOE-Regulated LPG Industry Participants and Penalizing Certain Prohibited Acts were the highlights of the discussion. This was followed by an open forum, where participants were able to ask questions and engage in dialogue with the experts, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the presented regulations.
The second day featured hands-on training led by Engr. Theodric Alingalan, Chief of the Mindanao Field Office (MFO) of DOE, focusing on calibrating and sealing fuel dispensing pumps, ensuring that local retailers are equipped to meet industry safety and operational standards.
Among the attendees were Maria Pilar N. Tawasil from CENREO-A Basilan, Ronie A. Hantian from CENREO-B, employees of MENRE EMDS, PENREO Basilan, representatives from BFP Basilan, Local Government Units (LGUs), and Oil and Gas Industry players.
The IEC Campaign is part of MENRE’s ongoing efforts to support the oil and gas industry in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through education, regulation, and technical assistance, ensuring a compliant, safe, and sustainable energy sector.
