News: July 30, 2010

Oil industry players gather for 3rd Emergency Response Exercises

Sharing the aims of promoting safety, members of the Philippine Institute of Petroleum (PIP), the country's major oil companies are once again hosting the 3rd Industry Emergency Response (IERO).

Held annually since 2007, the unique event is the only one of its kind designed to showcase the local petroleum industry's commitment to enhance the safety skills of its workers and their competence in responding to various emergency situations. The importance of a safe working environment for employees, along with the protection of facilities and immediate communities around the vicinity of oil depots, will likewise be highlighted during the day-long event.

An exciting round of demonstrations will be held on July 30 at the Batangas Terminal facility of Chevron Philippines Inc. from 730m to 2pm. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, who will grace the event as the Guest of Honor, will be welcomed by officials and representatives of the PIP's member companies, comprised of Chevron Philippines, Inc., Liquigaz Philippines Corporation, Petron Corporation, the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) Philippines Corporation, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation and Total Philippines Corporation.

Highlights of the event are the Oil Spill Response Demonstration, Open Tank Fire and Flange Fire Fighting, Ethanol Fire Response, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, and Emergency Rescue and Transfer. Representatives from the various PIP member companies will showcase the best practice, industry techniques, and hardware in resolving different emergency situations.

Sally Monteiro, Executive Director of the PIP shares, "We must be prepared, both as individual companies as well as a collective body, to prevent and respond to any fire or rescue emergency situation that the companies may face at any of their terminals, depots and installations. These efforts augment the members' constant, through- the-line commitment to public safety. Through this event, we hope to get other stakeholders closely involved and share our safety objectives."

The PIP is a non-stock, non-profit, SEC-registered grouping of businesses operating in the Philippines' downstream oil industry. Among its main objectives is the creation of a venue and forum for the sharing, preservation, and refinement of best practices in the field of health, safety, environment, and security. ###