On January 17th, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines formally signed into law Republic Act No. 9367, also known as the “Biofuels Act of 2006.”

R.A. No. 9367 will promote the use of alternative transport fuels consistent with the Declaration on East Asian Energy Security ratified by the 16 heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners during the just-concluded 12 ASEAN Summit in Cebu.

The Act mandates the use of biofuels as a measure to develop and utilize indigenous renewable and sustainable clean energy sources to reduce dependence on imported oil.

It also intends to mitigate toxic and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase rural employment and income. It ensures the availability of renewable clean energy without any detriment to the natural ecosystem, biodiversity and food reserves of the country.

The Act also mandates that within two years, all liquid fuels for motors and engines sold in the Philippines shall contain locally-sourced biofuels of at least five percent ethanol.

Ford Group Philippines Chairman Henry T. Co also expressed full support for the mandatory use of biofuel by oil companies based in the Philippines.

“The plant (Ford Group) would definitely and directionally use that… We have a lot of resources to support ethanol production,” Co said. (PIA-MMIO)