ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Department of Energy (DOE) has conducted a one-day workshop and consultation on all stakeholders as the agency envisions to come up with legal guidelines on the trade and use of coal in the country.
The workshop and consultation on coal traders accreditation and coal end-users registration and membership meeting was held Wednesday at the Garden Orchids Hotel in this city with over a hundred stakeholders in attendance.
DOE Assistant Secretary Ramon Allan Oca said the workshop and consultation aims to address the concerns of the stakeholders in order to adopt guidelines applicable to all traders and end-users.
Oca said the guidelines should be balanced between regulations and free trade, citing the use and trade of coal should be properly regulated.
Oca disclosed that they are planning to legitimize the operations of the small-scale coal miners to ensure they operate properly and in accordance with the law.
Extracting of coal is hazardous if not done properly, Oca stressed.
The workshop tackled the Philippine Coal Mining Laws, Rules and Regulations as well as presentation of circular on guidelines for coal traders accreditation and coal-end users registration.
The workshop and consultation here was the first to be held by the DOE in Mindanao. (PNA)
LAP/LAM/TPGarcia/rsm
