Senator Sherwin Gatchalian asked the Department of Energy to study the proposal to increase biofuel content in diesel to help absorb oversupply in the country’s copra industry.
Gatchalian, during the recent hearing on the DOE’s proposed P2.3-billion budget for 2020, called on Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to immediately convene the National Biofuels Board and come up with a policy to bolster the growth of local biodiesel production.
Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on energy, said the DOE and NBB needed to study the long-term feedstock availability before rendering any decision on higher blend of coco methyl ester to diesel products.
“Bottom line is, let’s convene the Biofuels Board and let’s come up with an action plan. The last time you convened [the NBB] is Q2, but there was not action yet,” Gatchalian said.