TACLOBAN CITY — Amid moves to suspend the country’s mandatory biofuel blending policy to ease rising fuel prices, Rep. Marcelino Libanan of the 4Ps party-list is pushing for immediate government subsidies to cushion the impact on millions of coconut farmers and workers.
The House Minority Leader warned that while reducing fuel costs is a priority, it should not come at the expense of those dependent on the coconut industry—one of the country’s largest agricultural sectors and a key source of rural livelihood.
Under the biofuel program, coconut-based biodiesel is blended with petroleum, creating steady demand for copra and helping support farm gate prices while promoting cleaner energy and reducing reliance on imported fuel. A suspension, however, could significantly cut demand for coconut products, leading to lower incomes for farmers.
Libanan said any temporary halt must be paired with direct and immediate assistance. He proposed that support be coursed through agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of Agriculture, including cash aid, emergency employment, and agricultural inputs.
Citing data from the Philippine Coconut Authority, Libanan noted that about 3.5 million coconut farmers cultivate some 3.6 million hectares nationwide, with an estimated 25 million Filipinos relying on the industry. More than 60 percent of these farmers live below the poverty line, making them highly vulnerable to market disruptions.
He stressed that reduced demand for coconut-based biodiesel could further deepen poverty in rural communities, particularly in coconut-producing regions such as Eastern Visayas, where many households depend heavily on copra production.
To address the issue, the House of Representatives of the Philippines has approved a measure allowing the temporary suspension of biofuel blending for up to one year in cases of significant fuel price increases. However, the Senate of the Philippines has yet to pass a counterpart bill before the Lenten break.
Libanan emphasized the need for a balanced approach, saying that policies aimed at stabilizing fuel prices must go hand in hand with safeguards that protect vulnerable sectors, particularly coconut farmers who stand to lose the most from the policy shift.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Infidelity a fact of life
WE, of course, should try our best, without giving up, to be faithful all the way to the end. No matter how many times we fall, we should just get up as many times as necessary, and just move on. We might arrive at our proper destination with a missing eye, hand, leg or whatever, but, at least, we should see to it that we reach our final goal.
Our infidelity should not be a surprise to us. Right from the start of humanity, with our first parents who were already in the perfect state of original justice, infidelity took place. When the plan of divine salvation started to take place, cases of infidelity also came about.
And even among the disciples of Christ, there was one who betrayed him, and another one who denied him. And cases of infidelity continue to take place, ad nauseam, even up to the present.
That is the bitter truth and the harsh reality of our human condition. But we should not worry so much about it because God’s mercy is always available, ready to be given in abundance as long as we do our part, no matter how small.
With the way we are, we should just try our best to continue struggling, to always feel the need for repentance and conversion, and to never get tired of having to begin and begin again.
Yes, as long as we struggle, we can be assured of our fidelity to whatever commitment we have entered into. The ideal situation should be that we are always in awe at the presence of God in our life, making him the principle and objective of all our thoughts, words and deeds.
When we have a strong faith in God as our father, whose love and mercy are always ready to be given, we can have the conviction also that it is always worthwhile to just begin and begin again.
Whatever failures or sins we may have committed, no matter how grave and ugly they are, we just have to go to him, asking for forgiveness and he will forgive us. We just have to move on.
Remember the parable of the prodigal son. That spoiled brat finally came to his senses after suffering so much for his stupidity and decided to go back to his father even if he would not anymore be considered his son. The father welcomed him back with great joy and restored him to his dignity.
The important thing is just to come home. We may have strayed from the right way and have done it knowingly and freely, and therefore with guilt. But God is always a father. He will never reject his son.
In other words, we should just come home. It’s understandable that we can present ourselves to God with shame and fear, but let’s be reassured that God will always take us back and would be most happy with our return.
We should just be realistic about our wounded condition here in this life but never fail to remember that God is bent to bring us back to him no matter how many times we fall. For our part we should just know how to renew ourselves always by going through the lifelong process of having to begin and begin again.
The attitude to have is to never surrender. We should just get up after every fall, say sorry for every mistake and sin we commit, continue asking for grace and polishing our virtues and skills in the ascetical struggle, and just move on. God always understands, always forgives, and is eager to help us in every way if we would just be receptive to him.