A COUNTRY WITH an abundant source of natural resources shouldn’t be fully dependent on imported fuel to generate electricity, says the Department of Agriculture (DA)
In a statement, the DA particularly hinted at the idea of a radical shift a to a five percent coco-biodiesel blend (B5) from the current the percent as a means of enhancing the government’s goal of achieving energy security, while revitalizing the local coconut industry.
According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the agency has already endorsed to legislators and the Department of Energy (DoE) a policy resolution calling for the shift after the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries-National Sectoral Committee passed Resolution 03 series of 2026 to advance environmental sustainability and enhance energy security.
“The resolution is backed by the private sector and we have transmitted it to Senate agriculture committee chairman Francis Pangilinan and energy secretary Sharon Garin, who also chairs the National Biofuels Board (NBB),” Tiu Laurel said.
“The shift will promote blending coconut methyl ester (CME)—a biodegradable biodiesel derived from coconut oil—into petroleum products. CME emits significantly less sulfur and greenhouse gases than conventional diesel,” the agri chief added.
He cited that “while B5 is a long-term market intervention rather than an immediate remedy for high fuel prices—with local prices expected to take six to 12 months to stabilize amid global supply chain disruptions—industry experts consider it a crucial step.”
“By promoting the shift to coco-biodiesel, we expect it to stabilize agricultural prices and raise the income for an estimated 2.5 to 3.5 million coconut farmers,” he averred.
The secretary described the decision as more than a step toward meeting international standards but a game-changing investment for the local farming sector, workers and families heavily dependent on the coconut industry for livelihood.
“This will also reduce our dependence on imported fuels,” he pointed out.
Philippine Coconut Authority (Philcoa) administrator Dexter Buted likewise expressed support for the transition, stressing that the resolution could significantly boost the coconut industry and the livelihoods it sustains.