THE Department of Energy (DoE) on Friday said it would step up monitoring of compliance with the 3-percent coconut methyl ester (CME) blend for all diesel fuels sold nationwide.
On Oct. 1, the DoE started implementing the 3-percent blend fuel to reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuels and to support local biodiesel. This is in compliance with the Biofuels Act of 2006 that mandates that all liquid fuels for motors and engines sold in the Philippines be blended with biofuels.
“Oil companies have been given ample time to make this adjustment. We will now conduct inspections at bulk depots to enforce compliance. Timely action at the depot level is crucial to maintaining an up-to-date and efficient fuel distribution chain,” said Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales, who supervises the agency’s Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB).
The OIMB will also expand its inspections to include gasoline stations.
Noncompliance with the 3-percent CME blend will incur a penalty of P200,000.
Noncompliance is considered adulteration, or the illegal practice of mixing a foreign substance into fuel, the DoE said, adding that possession of a biofuel blend that fails to meet Philippine National Standards is also a form of adulteration.
Repeat offenders will be fined P300,000. Repeated violations may lead to the revocation of the guilty party’s accreditation or registration.
Meanwhile, the DoE noted the positive economic impact of the use of biofuels since 2023, having created 3,260 jobs especially in rural areas.
People holding these “green jobs” are entitled to the Department of Labor and Employment’s Social Amelioration and Welfare Program including death and maternity benefits, livelihood assistance, training and education assistance, social protection and welfare benefits, emergency assistance and funding for socioeconomic projects.
The increased CME blend is also expected to boost demand for coconut farmers, biodiesel producers and other stakeholders in the coconut industry.
The CME blend will be increased to 4 percent on Oct. 1, 2025 and 5 percent on Oct. 1, 2026.
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