The Department of Energy (DOE) has officially recognized three major industry associations as authorized training providers for qualified service persons (QSPs) in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector. This move aims to bolster industry standards, ensuring the safe, efficient, and professional delivery of LPG services nationwide.
In a statement released over the weekend, the DOE granted certification to the LPG Industry Association (LPGIA), the LPG Marketers Association (LPGMA), and the Philippine LPG Association (PLPGA) after they met stringent requirements. These organizations will now offer accredited training programs that cover critical areas such as refinery operations, transport logistics, refilling plant management, and auto-LPG dispensing station oversight.
Rino Abad, director of the DOE’s Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB), emphasized that these training programs are vital for professionalizing the LPG industry. “By empowering these associations to deliver QSP training, we ensure that more professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to uphold the highest standards of safety and service,” said Abad.
The move is a key step in enforcing the LPG Industry Regulation Act, which mandates that all individuals in regulated LPG roles complete an approved training program by a certified provider. While businesses have until 2025 to transition to accredited training, from that point forward, only employees who have completed such courses will be eligible for license renewals.
Abad also highlighted the need for inclusive training, urging the newly certified organizations to extend their programs to all interested individuals, regardless of membership affiliation, to raise overall expertise in the sector.
