Philippines promotes coconut biodiesel to ease rising crude oil prices

The Philippines is stepping up efforts to increase the biodiesel blend in fuel to 5% (B5) to ease the impact of rising oil prices amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A committee under the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries has supported full implementation of the 2006 Biofuels Act and an immediate transition to B5. The National Sectoral Committee on Coconut believes this move will improve engine efficiency and reduce fuel costs.

According to the committee, increasing the coconut component in diesel will reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel and provide a stable market for millions of Filipino coconut farmers. It will also promote long-term energy independence and lower fuel expenses.

Dean Lao Jr., vice chair of the United Coconut Association of the Philippines, noted that the higher biodiesel blend improves vehicle fuel efficiency. He said that when the blend was increased from B2 to B3, vehicle mileage improved by at least 3%. The higher blend will also help reduce road emissions.

Last year, amid rising global coconut oil prices, the Philippine Department of Energy, following the recommendation of the National Biofuels Board, postponed higher biodiesel blends of 4% and 5%, originally scheduled for October 2025 and 2026. Currently, the coconut methyl ester component in diesel remains at 3%, which took effect on 1 October 2024.

Tags: Philippines, coconut oil, biofuel