RELEASED: 3 February 2017

(Taguig City). With the emergence of the electric vehicle industry in the Philippines, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has created an ad hoc technical working group to determine the suitability of gasoline stations as charging areas for electric or e-vehicles.

“In preparation for the booming electric vehicle industry, I instructed the DOE's Oil Industry Management Bureau and Energy Utilization Management Bureau to issue the necessary policies that will support the development of infrastructures complementing the e-vehicle industry, such as the availability of charging in gasoline stations,” said Cusi.

“We are currently drafting a policy on the reclassification of gasoline stations according to standards which includes - the parking area, comfort rooms, CCTVs and even convenience stores, among others. We are also exploring the possibility of the integration of an electric vehicle charging area to the existing facilities of gasoline stations,” added Cusi.

Under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 8479 or the “Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998,” the Department of Energy (DOE) is empowered to subject all industry participants to provide suitability of facilities for their proposed operation in accordance with existing national and accepted international standards.

Based on existing policies, this provision in the Oil Deregulation Law was reflected in the DOE’s Retail Rules on Liquid Petroleum Products (Department Circular DC2003-11-010), wherein the Philippine National Standards on Petroleum Products, Retail Outlets and Health, Safety and Environment (PNS/DOE FS 1-1:2005) specifies that the building/structures (i.e., gasoline stations) shall have a sales office, toilet facilities and an electrical/mechanical room.

“Apart from readying electric vehicle infrastructures, we also want to strengthen our gasoline stations’ consumer welfare and satisfaction through well-maintained and functional amenities within its premises,” Sec. Cusi concluded.

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