DOE-PIA conduct multi-sectoral forum on downstream oil industry in Ozamiz

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

Thursday 9th of August 2012

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Aug. 9 (PIA) -- A Multi-Sectoral Advocacy Campaign on the Downstream Oil Industry (DOI) will be conducted by the Oil and Management Bureau of the Department of Energy (OMB-DOE) at the Royal Garden Hotel, Ozamiz City, tomorrow, August 10, starting at 8:00 a.m.

To be held in cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the campaign aims to create a critical mass of communicators/media practitioners that would serve as conduits in disseminating the benefits and developments on DOI.

Discussions during the forum will focus on Republic Act No. 8479, which ensures a truly competitive market under a regime of fair prices, adequate and continuous supply of environmentally-clean and high quality petroleum products.

Otherwise known as “The Downstream Oil Industry Regulation Act of 1998,” RA 8479 encourages competition and the entry of new players in the oil market, said Dr. Zenaida Monsada of OMB-DOE.

She said deregulation of DOI has always been a contentious topic or one that is likely to cause disagreements during discussions, particularly, when it comes to pricing and compliance of gas stations and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) establishments to standards on quality and quantity.

Thus, DOE has conceptualized and implemented various strategies and information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns on the DOI, with the volatile movement of international oil prices brought about by geo-political concerns and speculators in the world market, as well, as public’s perception that DOE is incapable of protecting the consumers against price shocks and the unscrupulous trade practices, Monsada said.

For the past years, DOE has been conducting an IEC on DOI in order to inform and create awareness among its stakeholders, namely local government units, women’s organizations, LPP retail outlets, LPG establishments and the general public.

While those campaigns have been proven helpful, its coverage has been limited to areas DOE monitor or to those areas with request for IEC, which has made public impression of DOE as a reactive government agency, Monsada also said.

Recognizing the crucial role that media plays and its influence to the general public, DOE wants to strategies its IEC a program, including accessing Communicators Network.

A pool of communicators/media practitioners would be organized and equipped with information, such as, among others, energy/oil industry situation, pricing mechanism/ methodology.

Meanwhile, Monsada said the forum primarily aims to assist concerned agencies and the liquid petroleum products (LPP) and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) companies in the formulation and implementation of policies, plans and programs related to the industry.

It is also designed for the participants to come up with a common stance to deter the proliferation of the said illegal/unsafe practices to ensure the safety and welfare of the consuming public.

Among others, participants will be briefed on DOI, oil pricing, retail rules in the business of retailing LPP, LPG regulatory framework, consumer tips in buying LPP and safety and consumer tips in buying and using household LPG, during the event. (PIA-Mis. Occ.)