Philippines may boost biodiesel blend by year-end

The Philippine government said it would likely increase the biodiesel blend in diesel fuel to 3% before year-end, due to the oversupply of coconut methyl ester (CME) in the country. Republic Act 9367 or the Philippine Biofuel Law of 2006 said that two years after the implementation of the bill, June 8, 2007, biodiesel sold at the pumps should be, at minimum, a 2% mix. Thus, government officials mandated the biodiesel blend to increase from the initial 1% to 2% in February 2009. (March 13, 2009)