Gordon backs bill on biofuels

Sen. Richard Gordon has joined his colleagues in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in calling for the immediate passage of the Biofuels Act of 2006.

In his sponsorship speech during the ongoing Senate deliberations on the proposed Biofuels Act, Gordon pressed for the immediate passage of the measure for the country to reap biofuels’ far-reaching benefits in achieving energy independence, environmental quality, and employment creation.

Citing the experiences of pioneering ethanol producers Brazil and Thailand, Gordon stressed that it is now time to "explore the full range of startling and wonderful alternative energy technologies, starting with biofuels." Biofuels are crop-based transport fuels in the form of ethanol and biodiesel.

According to Gordon, the Philippines, being a perennial oil importer, is being held hostage by the ever-increasing prices of crude oil. "With the country’s dependence on foreign oil, the Philippines has to constantly contend with the volatile world oil prices, which tend to reflect unstable politico-military events in the Middle East," he said.

Gordon emphasized that in order to be prepared for what is widely perceived as an impending energy crisis, the Philippines must turn to alternative fuel sources. Being an agricultural country, the senator stressed that the Philippines can turn to its sugarcane and coconut farms for the production of biofuels.

He noted that biofuels do not only contribute to energy independence but also help alleviate air pollution. He said biofuels from biomass will encourage the creation of agro-industries that will translate to increased investments, additional employment, and increased government revenue.

Since biofuel production in the Philippines will require substantial investment to build infrastructure and processing plants, Gordon stressed that Congress must immediately pass the proposed Biofuels Bill.

The passage of the bill, he said, will confirm the government’s policy support towards biofuels. "Investors have expressed their enthusiasm over biofuels. What they merely await is legislation that would provide the legal framework upon which they can operate and be assured of the government’s commitment to help the industry flourish," Gordon said in his speed.

He also proposed additional measures that will provide further incentives to encourage investments in biofuels. These are reducing the excise tax on flexible fuel vehicles, exemption from value-added tax (VAT) of crops used as biofuel feedstock, the phase-out and eventual ban of harmful additives to gasoline, and the inclusion of a farmer representative in the proposed Philippine Biofuels Board.