Iloilo City lawmaker seeks biofuel imports amid crisis

Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jam” Baronda has filed House Bill No. 8602 seeking to amend the Biofuels Act of 2006 to allow the temporary importation of biofuel components amid soaring fuel prices.

The bill, filed on Monday, proposes adding a new paragraph 5.4 to Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9367 that would authorize the President to allow the importation of biofuel components, including bioethanol and biodiesel, for up to one year regardless of the supply level of domestically produced biofuel components.

The importation would be triggered when blended gasoline or diesel prices exceed pure fuel prices by at least five percent, as determined by the National Biofuels Board (NBB).

All proceeds from tariffs, duties, and taxes imposed on the importation during the authorized period would be earmarked exclusively for social amelioration programs benefiting farmers and workers in the domestic biofuels industry.

In the bill’s explanatory note, Baronda cited the Oil Price Watch as of March 14, 2026, noting that fuel prices are expected to surge further with projected increases of approximately PHP 14.00 to PHP 17.00 per liter for gasoline and PHP 19.30 to PHP 22.30 per liter for diesel.

The bill comes as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified as urgent a similar measure in both chambers of Congress amid the fuel price crisis triggered by the Israel-Iran conflict.

In a letter dated Monday, March 16, addressed to Senate President Tito Sotto, Marcos said the measure should be enacted immediately to help address fuel price volatility triggered by geopolitical tensions.

Marcos said the proposed amendment would “mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices amid escalating geopolitical tensions and volatility in global oil markets, as well as to strengthen the country’s resilience against future disruptions to energy supply.”

Senate Bill 1965 seeks to amend the same section of the Biofuels Act. Under the measure, the president may allow the importation of biofuel components through an executive order for up to one year if blended gasoline or diesel becomes at least five percent more expensive than pure gasoline or diesel.

Proceeds from tariffs and taxes on the importation would be earmarked for social amelioration programs for farmers and workers in the domestic biofuels industry, to be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in consultation with the Department of Agriculture.

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said the government is “all hands on deck” as the House moves swiftly to pass the measure.

“The President’s certification makes clear that this is an urgent matter affecting every Filipino household and the entire economy. The House stands ready to act swiftly on this measure so we can give government the flexibility to stabilize fuel prices,” Dy said.

House Bill No. 8469, or the proposed Oil Price Stabilization Act, is now up for second reading in the House plenary after the Committee on Energy, chaired by Palawan Rep. Jose C. Alvarez, approved it last week.

Under Article VI, Section 26(2) of the 1987 Constitution, the President’s certification of a bill as urgent allows Congress to dispense with the requirement that a measure be approved on separate days for second and third readings.

Fuel prices have soared after Israel and the United States struck Iran, causing Tehran to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage where 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes through.

The Biofuels Act of 2006 requires petroleum companies to blend locally produced biofuels with conventional fuel products. Gasoline must contain bioethanol, while diesel must include biodiesel derived from plant-based sources such as coconut.

Baronda’s bill would require the Department of Energy, in coordination with the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture, and other relevant agencies, to promulgate implementing rules and regulations within 60 days of the law’s effectivity.

“At the end of the day, our responsibility is clear: protect Filipino consumers from avoidable fuel price increases while ensuring that our energy supply remains stable and responsive to global developments,” Dy said.