Philippines: Agricultural Fuel Subsidy Program Announced

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) will soon execute a $10 Million fuel subsidy program for farmers and fishers to reduce production costs (PhP500 Million). DOE earlier estimated total energy consumption in agriculture at 471.7 kTOE (kilo tons of oil equivalent), of which 227.6 kTOE was attributed to petroleum products (96 percent being diesel), 4.2 kTOE to Coco Methyl Ester (CME) biodiesel, and the remainder attributed to electricity. The National Biofuels Board's discussion on increasing inclusion rates of CME biodiesel to offset dependency on imported oil and petroleum fuels remain on hold.