The Gas Policy Development Project Phase 3 (GPDP 3) held its Concluding Workshop for its Year 2 on 29 October 2025 at Palm Beach Resort, Batangas, in line with the ongoing completion of the Agency-Specific Regulations (ASRs) for the downstream natural gas industry.

Eight partner agencies under the Philippine Inter-Agency Health, Safety, Security, and Environment Inspection and Monitoring Team (PIA-HSSE IMT) presented the pre-final drafts of their respective ASRs. These agencies include the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Department of Health – Bureau of Quarantine (DOH-BOQ), Department of Labor and Employment – Bureau of Working Conditions (DOLE-BWC), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Batangas City Government, and the Department of Energy (DOE).

“The Department of Energy remains committed to supporting this process as we move closer to the formalization and eventual integration of these regulations into our respective agencies,” said Engr. Don Honor Jacob, Supervising Science Research Specialist of the DOE–Oil Industry Management Bureau.

The Concluding Workshop capped years of inter-agency discussions and consultations, as well as draft revisions, under the Regulation Creation component of GPDP 3. Building on the outcomes of GPDP 2, this phase aims to establish clear, evidence-based, and coordinated regulations to guide the safe and sustainable growth of the downstream natural gas sector.

“Moving forward, we must continue communicating and updating our standards when necessary. Regulation is not static. It must evolve with technology, operations, and experience. The stronger our coordination and communication, the more effective our regulatory system becomes,“ said Engr. Carmelita Villanueva, GPDP 3 Deputy Director for Technical and Process Safety & Occupational Health Expert.

GPDP 3 is implemented with the support of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in coordination with the DOE–Oil Industry Management Bureau and DOE–Natural Gas Management Division and in partnership with JERA. The resulting ASRs will serve as a comprehensive framework addressing the safety, health, environmental, structural, process, and marine aspects of liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry operations.