First DOE-recognized LPG training center opens in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — The Integrated LPG Distributors of the Philippines (ILDP) has opened the first Department of Energy (DOE)-recognized training center in the Visayas and Mindanao, in a move aimed at professionalizing the country’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector and tightening safety standards.

The initiative, unveiled in Cebu on August 12, marks a milestone for the association, which has become the first organization outside Luzon to secure DOE recognition as an official training provider for LPG industry players.

ILDP is now among only six training organizations nationwide accredited to certify Qualified Service Personnel (QSP), a mandatory requirement under Republic Act 11592, the LPG Industry Regulation Law.

“This initiative raises the bar for safety and service in the LPG sector. We believe that professionalizing our workforce through standardized training not only safeguards our customers but also uplifts the industry as a whole,” ILDP president Atty. John Dexter Cabahug told reporters at the launch event.

The DOE-backed program is designed to equip LPG dealers, handlers, and frontliners with essential skills covering safe handling and storage, regulatory compliance, consumer safety education, and ethical business practices.

Certification as QSP is now a prerequisite for LPG firms to secure a license to operate.

Industry officials said the training center addresses a long-standing gap in the sector, which has until now relied on fragmented and company-led safety courses.

The DOE’s recognition scheme consolidates training into a unified framework, with harmonized modules expected to be rolled out nationwide within three years.

By basing its training hub in Cebu, ILDP aims to decentralize access and make compliance more accessible to regional players, including small-scale retailers and cooperatives across Visayas and Mindanao.

The center is expected to train hundreds of personnel annually, with nationwide training sessions also being planned.

Cabahug added that the initiative comes amid heightened public concern over LPG-related accidents, underscoring the urgency of upgrading industry practices.

“Safety incidents in recent years have shown us that the sector cannot afford to remain fragmented. This program sets a benchmark not just for compliance, but for professionalism and consumer trust,” he said.

The move aligns with the DOE’s broader policy to enforce higher safety and environmental standards across the energy sector.

For LPG distributors, compliance with the QSP requirement is now integral to securing operating licenses, giving ILDP’s center an important role in shaping the future of the industry in the Philippines’ central and southern regions.