Bicam approves Biofuels Act

Congress passed the Biofuels Act of 2006 after heavy debates in the bicameral conference committee from Wednesday night till early yesterday morning.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the bicameral conference committee sped up deliberations on the "most exciting legislation" that Congress has tackled recently.

Malacañang has categorized the Biofuels Act as a priority legislation.

Pimentel was tasked by Senate energy committee chairwoman Miriam Defensor-Santiago to head the Senate panel to the bicameral conference committee.

Other members of the panel are Senators Ralph Recto and Manuel Roxas II. They met with the House panel led by Bukidnon Rep. Miguel Zubiri.

After hours of deliberations that lasted up to 2:30 a.m. yesterday, the Senate and the House of Representatives reconciled Senate Bill No. 2226 and House Bill No. 4629.

Pimentel said the discussion focused on the bill’s transitory provision, and that Roxas argued about the need for a transitory provision.

"Ang Senado lang ang meron noon (only the Senate version has that). Mar is the principal author, na within the first three years, medyo regulated din ang pagpasok ng ethanol or biodiesel plants dito (the entry of plants will be regulated)," he said.

"Because natakot sila baka kainin ng bagong planta ang domestic sugar supply, kasi imbis pupunta sa mga household industries ay doon na pupunta sa ethanol (they are afraid the new plants will eat up the domstic sugar supply)."

Pimentel expressed concern that the issue of possible depletion of sugar supply for local use be properly addressed by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and the lawmakers later agreed.

"That might give the wrong signal (even as) we are telling the people that this is the best way to go in terms of cutting (fuel) dependence on the Middle East and ensuring cleaner air," he said.

In lieu of that transitory provision, the bill seeks to reinstate the function of SRA "to ensure that domestic sugar is protected," he added.

Pimentel said the bicameral conference committee later agreed to reinstate the SRA.

"Sabi ni Mar (Roxas), wag naman i-sacrifice ang pangangailangan ng taong bayan ng sugar," he said.

The heavy debates came after the House contingent pushed for the deletion of the entire transitory formula.

Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Gordon, the bill’s co-author and co-sponsor, lauded the speedy passage of the Biofuels Act.

"The speedy passage of this measure will promote the use of alternative renewable energy sources, particularly biofuels, which would benefit the country tremendously in terms of reducing our dependence on imported oil, protecting public health and the environment, and creating jobs and livelihood opportunities in this new industry," he said.

The Biofuels Act of 2006 requires the use of biofuels by blending five percent bioethanol with gasoline within two years from the effectivity of the Act, and one percent biodiesel with diesel within three months from its effectivity.

Gordon anticipates the influx of investors in the biofuels industry that would spur agro-industrial development and increase rural employment and income.

Other industries, like the alternative fuel vehicle industry, are also eagerly anticipating the passage of the proposed Biofuels Act of 2006, he added.

Gordon Ford, the American automaker, has established the Philippines as its ASEAN Center of Excellence for Flex Fuel Technology through the manufacture of the first flex fuel vehicle and an additional investment of P1.1 billion to build the first flex fuel engine manufacturing facility in ASEAN.

Aside from having clean alternative energy, the use of biofuels would also have a positive impact on the price of gasoline and diesel, he added.

Meanwhile, major transport groups yesterday urged the government to intensify its information campaign of the use of coco-biodiesel.

The alternative source of fuel should be made available in gasoline stations nationwide for ready distribution to motorists, the groups added.

The United Transport Coalition said the government should come up with a scheme on how to make the coco-biodiesel mixture readily available in gasoline stations to spare drivers the problem of blending their regular fuel with coco-biodiesel.

A bill being deliberated in Congress, one of those certified urgent by the administration, provides that "at least five percent bioethanol shall comprise the total volume of gasoline fuel actually sold and distributed in the country" and "a minimum of one percent biodiesel by volume shall be blended into all diesel engine fuels sold in the country."

The government has been campaigning for the use of coco-biodiesel, a biodegradable diesel fuel derived from plants, in private and public utility vehicles.

The use of the alternative fuel lowers the emission of nitrous oxide and sulfur oxide – main contributors to smog – and lowers air pollutants like black smoke and other air toxins that cause serious health problems.

Advocates of the use of coco-biodiesel claimed the fuel also cuts maintenance costs and promotes better and more efficient combustion and less engine vibration. - Christina Mendez, Sandy Araneta