A ranking congressman is prodding the Department of Energy (DOE) to quickly act on Department of Agriculture's (DA) endorsement of the immediate adoption of a five percent (B5) coconut biodiesel blend.

According to House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan, the move gives renewed hope to millions of Filipinos who depend on the coconut industry for their livelihoods.

"We welcome the Department of Agriculture's strong support for the B5 biodiesel blend. It recognizes what we have long maintained—that strengthening the coconut industry is not only sound agricultural policy but also good economic, energy, and environmental policy," Libanan said on Sunday, July 5.

"We urge the DOE and the National Biofuels Board to act on the DA's recommendation with urgency and move forward with the higher biodiesel blend as envisioned under the Biofuels Act of 2007," Libanan added.

Libanan recalled that he strongly opposed the suspension of the scheduled increases in the biodiesel blend, warning at the time that delaying the program would deprive millions of coconut farmers and workers of higher incomes from increased demand for copra.

In July 2025, the DOE, upon the recommendation of the National Biofuels Board, suspended the scheduled implementation of the four percent (B4) and five percent (B5) coco-biodiesel blend mandates, citing concerns over their potential impact on pump prices and inflation.

Biofuel blending refers to the policy of mixing a certain percentage of biofuels—such as coconut-based biodiesel—with conventional petroleum fuels like diesel. Under the proposed B5 blend, biodiesel would account for five percent of every liter of diesel fuel sold in the country.

"We opposed the suspension because it ran contrary to the direction set by the Biofuels Act and denied millions of Filipino coconut farmers the economic opportunities that the higher biodiesel blend was designed to create," Libanan said.

The veteran lawmaker said he remained convinced that the suspension was a disservice to the millions of Filipinos who depend on the coconut industry for their survival.

The Minority Leader stressed that expanding the use of coconut methyl ester would increase domestic demand for copra, help improve farmgate prices, generate more jobs throughout the coconut value chain, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, and promote cleaner energy.

"Behind every increase in copra demand are families struggling to put food on the table, send their children to school, and build a better future. Many of our coconut farmers continue to live below the poverty line. They deserve policies that expand economic opportunities—not policies that hold them back," Libanan said.

"We cannot speak of inclusive growth while neglecting one of the country's largest and poorest agricultural sectors. Supporting a higher biodiesel blend means supporting rural livelihoods, strengthening our energy security, and creating greater value from a renewable resource that our own farmers produce," he added.

Libanan called on the DOE and the National Biofuels Board to complete the necessary technical and supply assessments without unnecessary delay and implement the higher biodiesel blend at the soonest possible time.

"We have before us an opportunity to fulfill both the spirit and the objectives of the Biofuels Act while uplifting millions of Filipino families who depend on the coconut industry. We should seize that opportunity," Libanan said.

According to the Philippine Coconut Authority, about 3.5 million registered coconut farmers cultivate approximately 3.6 million hectares of coconut plantations nationwide.

The agency estimates that around 25 million Filipinos derive income or economic support from the coconut industry, while government data indicate that more than 60 percent of coconut farmers and workers live below the poverty line.