By: Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY – The Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) of the Department of Energy (DOE) in collaboration with Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 will conduct a multi-sectoral advocacy on downstream oil industry in Zamboanga del Sur on Sept. 18, 2014 at Alindahaw Hotel this city.
PIA-9 Regional Director Noemi B. Edaga said the activity is geared toward creating and strengthening a critical mass that would serve as conduit to the general public in the efforts to generate awareness on downstream oil industry and its benefits.
It may be recalled that the country’s downstream oil industry had been deregulated since 1998 and is currently dominated by two major oil refining and marketing companies – Petron and Pilipinas Shell.
A third oil refiner and marketer, Caltex Philippines Inc. converted its 86,500 bbl/d refinery into an import terminal in 2003 and now operates as a plain marketing and distributing company under the name “Chevron,” but remains its Caltex brand.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), a state-owned company, and Saudi Aramco jointly own Petron; each with a 40 percent stake while the public holds the remaining 20 percent share.
Petron operates a 180,000 bbl/d refinery and over 1,200 gasoline stations nationwide; Pilipinas Shell has a 110,000 bbl/d refinery and about 800 gasoline stations; and Caltex/Chevron has 2 import terminals, and around 850 retail gas stations nationwide.
Participants to the activity are national line agencies, local government units (Mayors, Information officers, Business Permit Issuing Officers, Licensing Officers and Treasures, Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), media, retailers and owners of gasoline stations.
The same activity will also be conducted in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte on Sept. 16, 2014.
