The Department of Energy (DOE) is making it faster and more convenient for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry participants, such as retailers, dealers, as well as gasoline station owners in the island provinces to secure their License to Operate (LTO) and Certificate of Compliance (COC). Through its Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB), the DOE will hold a One-Stop-Shop in Palawan from 11 to 15 August 2025.
This initiative supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to bring government services closer to the Filipino people, with particular attention to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). During the activity, the DOE will provide same-day processing of LTO and COC applications for applicants with complete documentation, significantly reducing processing time.
In the past two years, LPG players from different provinces have had to travel to DOE Central Office in Taguig City to submit and process applications. By taking licensing services to the regions, the DOE aims to reduce travel costs and lost business time, encourage wider compliance, and make regulatory processes more accessible to smaller operators across the archipelago.
The One-Stop-Shop also reinforces compliance with the LPG Industry Regulation Act (LIRA) and related DOE issuances, which require industry players to secure the necessary licenses and certifications from the Department and other concerned agencies. These requirements are essential to upholding standards of conduct and codes of practice and to ensuring adherence to health, safety, security, environmental, and quality standards applicable to LPG and Liquid Fuels (LF) industry activities.
“This One-Stop-Shop puts safety and service at the forefront of our work. By delivering services directly to the people, we are strengthening safety standards while helping local enterprises operate more efficiently and competitively. Our goal is clear: safer homes, safer communities, and a stronger local economy,” Undersecretary Alessandro O. Sales said
This is the Department’s second One-Stop-Shop in Palawan, building on the success of a similar event in Puerto Princesa City in 2023. The Department will expand this initiative to islands and remote provinces to ensure that DOE services reach underserved areas nationwide.
Applicants are reminded to prepare and present complete documentation, as required under DOE issuances, to qualify for same-day processing. The DOE also urges all LPG and LF industry players to comply fully with applicable laws and regulations, noting that failure to do so may result in substantial administrative or criminal penalties, including suspension or closure of operations and permanent disqualification from engaging in LPG and LF-related activities.
As of June 2025, 14,672 LPG facilities nationwide have been issued LTOs. Within Region IV-B (MIMAROPA), which includes Palawan, 288 LPG facilities have received approved LTOs.