Philippine sugar farmers raise concern over proposed suspension of biofuel rule
In India, BioEnergy Times reported that sugar farmers in the Philippines have voiced concern over a proposal that would allow the temporary suspension of the rule requiring fuels to contain locally produced biofuels, saying the move could affect farmers’ income.
Renato Cabati, head of the Ethanol Producers Association of the Philippines (EPAP), raised the issue during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy. The discussion focused on proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 9367, which requires fuel sold in the country to include a portion of locally produced biofuel, according to the report.
Under Senate Bill No. 1485, the president may suspend the requirement for up to one year if the price of blended gasoline or diesel becomes at least 5% higher than that of pure fuel. Such a move would require a recommendation from the Philippine National Biofuels Board and the Department of Energy, according to the report.
Cabati said suspending the rule could reduce demand for molasses, a by-product of sugar used to produce ethanol. He said sales of molasses account for about 13% of farmers’ income and warned that a drop in demand could hurt livelihoods, especially as fertilizer prices have recently risen by about 29%.
He noted that the country has nearly 400,000 hectares of sugarcane farms cultivated by around 95,000 farmers. Cabati urged lawmakers to support local producers rather than rely more on fuel imports, adding that ethanol produced in the country is a renewable and locally sourced fuel, the report added.
Category: Fuels
