By Lenie Lectura
THE Philippine Institute of Petroleum (PIP), a group of leading oil companies, and key government agencies signed last week the implementing rules governing the continued supply of fuels in Metro Manila during calamities and disasters.
The guidelines detail the roles of each signatory, areas of cooperation and the framework that will ensure fuel supply in Metro Manila in case of disasters arising from earthquakes, typhoons, floods, fire and spills.
The signing of the rules comes eight months after the memorandum of agreement (MOA) among PIP, Department of Energy (DOE), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) was signed.
The MOA provides reliable and continuous supply of fuels in the aftermath of calamities to ensure faster delivery of humanitarian aid, reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Under the rules, the DOE is the primary contact point between government and the petroleum industry, and will take the lead in the development of a disaster management plan.
The DOE is also tasked to coordinate with PIP to prioritize fuel distribution and ensure the immediate restoration of power in fuel depots and retail stations.
The department may also opt to temporarily suspend biofuels blends, which require a 2-percent cocomethyl ester in diesel and 10-percent ethanol for gasoline.
The MMDRRMC and the NDRRMC, on the other hand, will provide a list of staging areas; coordinate with the DOE on fuel supply affecting key government agencies under their authority; and coordinate with concerned agencies on the exemption of fuel trucks from the truck ban in Metro Manila and in areas where fuel sources are located to facilitate delivery.
Meanwhile, PIP member-companies, which include Chevron Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Petron Corp., PTT Philippines Corp., Total (Philippines) Corp. and Isla LPG Corp., will provide the DOE, the MMDRRMC and NDRMMC a list of stations where government vehicles can fuel up during disasters. These stations will be located near incident command post areas.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government and its attached agencies, the Armed Forces, Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Transportation and Communications, are also part of the agreement. Their responsibilities include providing status reports on affected localities and their fuel requirements, clearing operations for affected roads and bridges, safety and security of fuel tankers, marine vessels, fuel depots and stations, among others.
The MOA and its implementing guidelines forged by PIP and the government are the first-of-its-kind agreement in the country.
“This landmark agreement ensures that much-needed fuels get to the people and areas that need [them] most during disasters. There is an urgent need for closer cooperation among all sectors for a speedy and effective disaster response. We are proud signatories of this public-private pact,” PIP said.
“Moving forward, PIP is committed to work with the government to enhance and expand business-resiliency programs nationwide,” PIP added.