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.