DOE, PIA convene stakeholders in Butuan, Surigao
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 31 (PIA) – The Department of
Energy (DOE) in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga
convened the stakeholders from the local government units, government agencies
and information officers from this city and Surigao City for the Multi-Sectoral
Advocacy (MSA) Campaign on Downstream Oil Industry.
"On behalf of our regional director Abner
Caga, may you enjoy our activity and be able to cascade the learnings you will
gain from the speakers. The discussion will focus on liquid petroleum products
and liquefied petroleum gas laws, rules, and regulations, among others, in line
with the government's thrust in ensuring a competitive market under a regime of
fair prices, adequate and continuous supply of environmentally-clean and high
quality petroleum products. The advocacy drive also pursues Republic Act 8479
otherwise known as the 'Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998,"
underlined PIA Caraga deputy regional director Fryan Abkilan.
Nora CL Molde, regional operations chief of PIA
Caraga and Agusan del Norte InfoCen Manager also acknowledged the guests and
participants and lauded their efforts for being active advocates in their
respective communities.
"We acknowledge your full support for this
event especially our three mayors who travelled far just to attend this forum.
We also have with us the representatives from the national line agencies, mass
communicators and media practitioners. Thank you and we hope to continue our
strong partnership as we will meet again in our future activities,"
expressed Molde.
Director Rodela Romero, OIC Director - Oil
Industry Management Bureau of Department of Energy gave an overview on
Downstream Oil Industry and discussed the Oil Import Sources and the Retail
Rules-Product Quantity.
According to Dir. Romero, the disparity of the
prices of the petroleum products maybe caused by supply, source and
transhipment costs, economies of scale and market competition, and local
condition of islands and attendance
Romero further briefed the participants on the
overview of what the Downstream Oil Industry is all about, the implementation
of Republic Act No. 8479 (An Act Deregulating the Downstream Oil Industry and
for other purposes), as well as several issues and concerns that are faced by
the industry.
In his talk about the Auto Liquefied Petroleum
Products (LPG) Rules/LPG in Butane Canister, Nilo Geroche, chief of Energy
Industry Management Division, DOE-Mindanao Field Office shared the different
characteristics of the canister valve vs LPG cylinder valve and the reported
fire incidents caused by LPG in tin canisters. "We can't compromise our
safety by using these canisters as LPG-refilled containers," he
emphasized.
Loralai Capistrano from the Retail Market
Monitoring and Special Concerns Division of DOE discussed the liquefied fuel
retail rules and the important points on rules and regulations governing the
business of retailing liquid petroleum products. "These rules will guide
us on how we should conduct the business and provide other government bodies a
technical reference in granting permits for retail outlets," she stressed.
Also, Engr. Alex Rayos, Supervising Science
Research Specialist of Retail Market Monitoring and Special Concerns Division
of DOE bared that out of 220 refilling plants in the country 18 of those are
found in Mindanao and one is found in Caraga region.
Meanwhile, Atty. Angelito Agoncillo, chief of
Hearing Division, DOE-Legal Services talked on the Regulatory Framework on the
Business of Retailing Liquefied Petroleum Products and LPG. He also reminded
the stakeholders to be fully aware of the laws concerning the downstream oil
industry and be able to conform and sustain as required. “Any violation has a
corresponding penalty. Being a consumer, dealer, we should be very keen and
responsible in observing proper rules and regulations,” he highlighted.
(JPG/DJMA/PIA-Caraga)
DOE, PIA spearhead multi-sectoral advocacy
campaign in Butuan
By Aimee B. Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 31 (PIA) - The Department of
Energy (DOE), in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
Caraga, conducted a Multi-Sectoral Advocacy Campaign on Downstream Oil Industry
on March 30, 2016 at Almont Inland Hotel, here.
This is under the Communication Initiatives
Program being managed and implemented by the DOE through its Oil Industry
Management Bureau (OIMB).
The advocacy campaign aimed to create and
capacitate a critical mass of communicators/media practitioners that would
serve as conduits in disseminating the benefits and developments in the
industry.
One of the topics discussed was the illegal sale
of bottled gasoline more commonly known as “bote-bote” peddled in sari-sari
stores and even in households. The DOE urged the participants present to help
stop this kind of illegal act. They also urged the local government units to
pass an ordinance prohibiting the sale of "bote-bote" and penalize
the violators considering the danger it would cause and harm the lives of the
people.
The DOE also discussed the Overview on the
Downstream Oil Industry, LPG Industry Regulatory Framework, Retail Rules,
Metrology and Basic Principles on the Sealing and Calibration of a Dispensing
Pump.
The DOE emphasized that “a well-informed and
vigilant consumer is the best protected consumer.”
Other DOI stakeholders present during the said
event were representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau
of Product Standards, Department of the Interior and Local Government – Bureau
of Fire Protection, National Economic and Development Authority, Local
Government Units, Liquid Petroleum Products (LPP) retailers, Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG) dealers and media practitioners. (LGU-Agusan del
Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee pleased
over “NGP” in SurSur
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 31 (PIA) – The
Provincial Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee (PMFPC) here has
expressed satisfaction on the implementation of the National Greening Program
(NGP) province-wide.
Efren Rivas, provincial administrator and concurrent
PMFPC chair, while presiding over the 1st Quarter Committee Meeting held on
March 29, 2016, said that Surigao del Sur had remained protective over its
existing forests.
He, who just came from General Santos City
recently, representing Governor Johnny Pimentel during the last meeting called
by Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chair Luwalhati Antonino, said that
Caraga Region, particularly Surigao del Sur, had continued to stay on
beautifully green of its forest cover as compared to other provinces.
Pointing out the ill-effects of “El NiΓ±o,” Rivas
shared what he noticed along the way while heading home on an overland trip—it
was more of dried tract of land devoid of lushness.
In his opening statement, what the PMFPC chair
told the PMFPC members, comprised of mostly government agencies, including the
army and police, had apparently matched the “Presentation of 1st Quarter Forest
Protection Accomplishments for CY 2016, NGP and Mangrove Beach Forest PROJECT
(MBFP) Accomplishments/Status for CY 2016” care of the three Community
Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) located in Cantilan, Lianga,
and Bislig City, respectively.
Meanwhile, for the NGP alone, except for
CENRO-Cantilan which posted 94 percent, both CENROs in Lianga and Bislig City
reportedly hit the 100 percent mark in 2015. (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DAR Agnor holds seminar on Integrating Work,
Family, Personal Life
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 31 (PIA) - Employees of the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Agusan del Norte attended the Seminar on
“Integrating Work, Family and Personal Life” held recently in one of the
convention centers here.
The seminar was part of the month-long activities
in line with the National Womens’ Month
with the theme “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda!” organized by the
Gender and Development (GAD) technical working group of this province in
partnership with DAR Ladies Association (DARLA).
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II
Andre B. Atega, represented by Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer for Land
Tenure Improvement Division Laudecia F. Acquiatan in her message encouraged
every employee to put into practice what they have learned during the seminar.
The activity aimed on how to maintain not only a
productive workplace but also a harmonious family relationships. It also brings
personal growth and development in order to live a well-balance work and life
coupled with inner satisfaction from relationships with God.
Honey Jane Dadula, DARLA officer and one of the
organizers, said that this seminar will do in balancing the value of work while
keeping their family’s relationships strong and healthy behind the everyday
challenges in the office and home.
Jobert Tolentino, the resource speaker, said that
“in this busy world, there are always competing demands for time. If the
quality of our work affects the quality of time spend with our family, then,
this seminar will give a perfect balance on integrating work, family and
personal life.”
Topics discussed were Complementary Roles of
Husband and wife; Healthy Communication in the family and in the workplace;
Affair Proofing of your marriage; Understanding men and women’s differences;
and Making and managing money. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
