This policy brief reviews the implementation of Republic Act No. 9367, or the Biofuels Act of 2006, nearly two decades after its enactment. It finds that the law succeeded in creating a mandated market for biodiesel and bioethanol, expanding production capacity, generating rural employment, and delivering foreign exchange savings and modest emission reductions. These gains, however, have outpaced upstream feedstock development: the biodiesel sector remains exposed to aging coconut trees and volatile coconut oil prices, while the bioethanol sector continues to rely on imports for roughly half of domestic demand. The brief also examines pending “Murang Langis” bills which would allow the President to suspend blending mandates during price spikes, and weighs the trade-offs for investor confidence, rural incomes, and energy security. It closes with recommendations to align mandates with feedstock targets, diversify feedstocks, and adopt rules-based import and adjustment mechanisms.
