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)
