Section 12December 9, 1992, Sec./Art. 12

Bureaus and Services. – Subject to the power of the Secretary, with the approval of the President, to reorganize, restructure, and redefine the functions of the bureaus and services for the effective discharge of the powers and functions of the Department under this Act, the Department shall have the following bureaus and services: Energy Resource Development Bureau; Energy Utilization Management Bureau; Energy Industry Administration Bureau; Energy Planning and Monitoring Bureau; and Administrative Support Services.

The bureaus and services shall have the following powers and functions:

(a) Energy Resource Development Bureau (1) Assist in the formulation and implementation of policies to develop and increase the domestic supply of local energy resources like fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, and geothermal resources;

(2) Assist in the formulation of sectoral programs and plans relative to the exploration, development, and extraction of local energy resources and implement, monitor, and regularly review said program;

(3) Conduct energy research and studies in support of the abovementioned activities;

(4) Provide consultative training and advisory services to practitioners and institution sin the areas of regulated activities; and

(5) Assist in the formulation of financial and fiscal policies, rules, guidelines, and requirements relative to the operation of service contractors and implement and enforce said policies.

(b) Energy Utilization Management Bureau (1) Assist in the formulation and implementation of policies for the efficient and economical transformation, conversion, processing, refining, marketing, distribution, transportation, and storage of petroleum, coal, natural gas, geothermal, and other nonconventional energy resources such as wind, solar, biomass, and others; and ensure their efficient and judicious utilization;

(2) Monitor sectoral energy consumption and conduct energy audits, technical training, energy management advisory services, and technology application on efficient energy utilization;

(3) Develop, promote and commercialize applications of biomass, solar, small hydro, wind, wood, and charcoal and other nonconventional energy systems including new and more efficient and economical transformation, conversion, processing, refining, marketing, distribution, transportation, and storage technologies for conventional energy resources;

(4) Assist in the formulation of an integrated rural energy program to effectively address the needs of rural development and environmental programs and implement, monitor, and regularly review said program;

(5) Assist in the formulation of an operational plan for the allocation of oil, fuel, and energy sources in the event of the declaration of critically low-energy supply provided for in Section 25 of this Act;

(6) Provide information on energy technology and develop middle and long-term energy technology development in cooperation with the Department of Science and Technology;

(7) Monitor the implementation of energy projects in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure compliance with prescribed environmental standards;

(8) Recommend appropriate courses of action to resolve major issues may impede energy project siting or result in adverse environmental impact;

(9) Require industrial, commercial, and transport establishments to collect or cause the collection of waste oil for recycling as fuel or lubricating oil; and

(10) Develop and implement a continuing energy conservation program designed to optimize energy utilization, including a nationwide information campaign on energy conservation.

(c) Energy Industry Administration Bureau (1) Assist in the formulation of regulatory policies to encourage and guide the operations of both government and private entities involved in energy resource supply activities such as independent power production, electricity distribution, as well as the importation, exportation, stockpiling, storage, shipping, transportation, refinement, processing, marketing, and distribution of all forms of energy products, whether conventional or nonconventional;

(2) Draw up plans to cope with contingencies of energy supply interruptions; and

(3) Assist in the formulation of financial and fiscal policies, rules, guidelines, and requirements relative to the operations of entities involved in the supply of energy resources such as oil companies, petroleum product dealers, coal importing and distributing companies, natural gas distribution entities, independent power producers, and all other entities involved in conventional supply activities and implement and enforce said policies.

(d) Energy Planning and Monitoring Bureau (1) Assist in the development and updating of an integrated energy plan for the short, medium, and long-term periods to provide a comprehensive assessment on the demand scenarios and supply options as well as the impacts of energy policies on the economy, poverty, and environment;

(2) Develop and maintain a centralized, comprehensive, and unified data and information program to ensure the efficient collection, evaluation, analysis, and dissemination of data and information on reserves of various energy resources, production, demand, development technology, and related economic and statistical information which are required for policy formulation, program planning and implementation;

(3) Supervise, coordinate, and integrate the formulation, monitoring, and review of programs and plans for energy supply development such as power development, local energy resource development and production, and energy importation;

(4) Regularly review and analyze past and current patterns of energy consumption vis-à-vis growth and development performance of the various economic sectors to evaluate current and foreseeable trends in energy demand; and conduct energy supply-demand balancing studies to define energy supply and utilization strategies, estimate the resources required, and assess the energy programs economic, environmental, social, and political impact;

(5) Assume the incorporation of national environmental goals in the formulation and implementation of energy programs, and to advance the goals of restoring, protecting, and enhancing environmental quality, and assuring public health and safety; and

(6) Conduct studies on international energy issues that have a direct impact on negotiations involving energy resources and technologies.

(e) Administrative Support Services The Administrative Support Services shall be composed of the Office of the Legal counsel and the Financial and Management Services.

The Office of the Legal Counsel shall be responsible for providing legal advice and services on all policies, programs, and operational matters of the Department. It shall provide legal counseling services in cases where the Department is a party and shall also handle administrative cases against any personnel of the Department and submit recommendations pertaining to them.

The Financial and Management Services, which shall consist of the Human Resources Management Division, General Services Divisions, and the Financial Management Division, shall be responsible for providing the Department with services relative to personnel information, records, supplies, equipment, collection and disbursements, security, and custodial works. It shall also be responsible for providing the Department with staff advice and assistance on budgetary, financial, and management improvement matters.

CHAPTER III

ATTACHED AGENCIES AND CORPORATIONS