Pursuant to chapter VII, Section 23 of Republic Act No. 8479, otherwise known as the "Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act Of 1998," Section 14 (paragraph) c of Department Circular nNo. 98-03-004, as amended by Department Circular No. 2002-05-001, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

WHEREAS, under the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998 (RA 8479), in relation to the Department of Energy Act of 1992 (RA 7638), the Secretary of Energy is authorized to exercise such powers concomitant with the policy of ensuring continuous, adequate and stable supply of energy, in respect of the conservation, stockpiling and storage of energy resources;

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 134 issued by the President of the Republic of the Philippines on 14 October 2002, Republic Act No. 7638, otherwise known as an "Act Creating the Department of Energy" and Republic Act No.

Pursuant to Section 5 (a), (c) and (e) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7638, otherwise known as the “Department of Energy Act of 1992, creating the Department of Energy (DOE); Executive Order (EO) No. 66 designating the DOE as the lead agency in developing the Philippine Natural Gas industry;

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 (k) of R.A. 7638, otherwise known as the Department of Energy Act of 1992, in compliance with Executive Order No. 26 dated 7 October 1992, and in line with Department Special Order No. 2000-07-016, dated 13 July 2000, the following Rules of Practice and Procedure are hereby adopted and promulgated.