Philippines Implements E10 Mandate

Gasoline fuels sold and distributed in the Philippines will be blended with 10 percent ethanol starting April 1 as the country's E10 mandate finally takes effect.

The Philippines' E10 mandate should have taken effect as far back as 2011 based on the Biofuels Act of 2006, which requires that ethanol blend should increase from 5 to 10 percent four years after the law's implementation on February 2007.

With the implementation of the long awaited higher mandate, some sectors, however, are reportedly voicing out their concerns and asking the government to prove with scientific facts that the use of 10 percent ethanol blend in transportation fuel will not cause harm and danger. Opposition to E10 mandate basically comes from the increasing worry that alcohol blended with gasoline may damage automobile engine and other parts and from the concern that cars may get lower mileage due to lower energy content of blended fuel compared to pure gasoline. On a different front, lawmakers are concerned with the negative impact of increasing biofuel mandates on land use and food production.