Philippines strengthens monitoring of compliance of 3 per cent coconut biodiesel blends

The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday said it will implement tougher monitoring to ensure that all diesel fuel in the country meets the standard of 3 per cent coconut methyl ester (CME) blends.

The Office of Survey Management (OSM) will conduct inspections to ensure a seamless transition to higher biodiesel blends.

Violators may face fines of up to PhP200,000 for non-compliance, which will be considered adulteration, while repeat offenders may be fined up to PhP300,000 and may have their certification or registration revoked.

The DOE then emphasised the need for a three-phase increase in biofuel blends, which would benefit the environment, green job creation, the coconut industry, fuel efficiency and savings.

A 3 per cent increase in the price of CME blends is the first phase; this will be followed by an increase to 4 to 5 per cent by October 2025 and October 2026, respectively.