PCA Pushes Higher CME Biofuel Content in Biodiesel Fuel Blend

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), is pushing for the increase in coco methyl ester (CME) content of biodiesel from the present two percent (B2) to five percent (B5), in a bid to create more demand and jobs for the coconut industry. “To increase the demand for coconut and sustain the livelihood of farmers, the DA-PCA, in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE) and other members of the National Biofuel Boards (NBB), continuously exert efforts to implement the mandated increase in the use of (CME) biofuel blend,” the DA said in a statement.
    The PCA has presented to the NBB the projected production data for the next five years (2022-2026) to guarantee that there is sufficient feedstock requirement for B5.  It also proposed policies and regulations to ensure that farmers will directly benefit from the B5 policy. CME is a biofuel made from coconut oil that is converted to a diesel-substitute while exhibiting combustion-improving properties to lower harmful emissions and improve mileage.
  
  PCA administrator Benjamin Madrigal earlier said that aside from its positive effect on the environment, health and fuel efficiency, one of the benefits of hiking the biodiesel blend to B5 is the increased domestic utilization of crude coconut oil (CNO). This would lessen the country’s dependence on the unstable world market price for copra, CNO and other coconut-based products, he said. “The increase in the domestic demand for coconut oil through the full implementation of B5 will definitely improve the copra farm gate price and will eventually redound to the benefits of our farmers,” Madrigal said. 
Other direct impacts of B5 implementation include the restoration of engine efficacy due to clean combustion with more power and mileage efficiency, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and foreign exchange savings on fuel import which amount to about P13.6 billion per year.