Future policies on Philippine bioethanol feedstocks could change after stakeholders from the National Sectoral Committees on Corn and on Livestock and Poultry met on June 4, 2026 via hybrid format to discuss amendments to Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2008-1.
The proposed amendment seeks to lift government restrictions and officially add corn to sugarcane and molasses as approved bioethanol feedstocks. The proposal still requires final approval from the National Biofuels Board.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for Operations U-Nichols Manalo cited the ongoing fuel crisis as a primary driver behind the policy review, noting that local corn growers have long pushed for inclusion in the bioethanol market.
“We all know we are facing a fuel crisis, which is why we are again discussing the biofuel program,” Asec. Manalo said.
“During the three-island Corn Congresses held last year, participants passed a resolution supporting the delisting of corn so it can be used for ethanol. We are holding this consultation to gather your inputs and address your anxieties because, then again, the elephant in the room is the food-versus-fuel debate,” he added.
Asec. Manalo also acknowledged the historical concerns regarding land competition that originally led to corn’s restriction, emphasizing that the government wants to weigh all perspectives on this traditional “land utilization versus food, feed, and fuel” argument.
Potential benefits and risks
Advocates see the amendment as an alternative revenue stream for farmers during lean seasons. In a study from the University of the Philippines Los Ba帽os (UPLB), experts proposed using seasonal yellow corn oversupply directly into ethanol production, particularly during the wet season when drying facilities are scarce and farmgate prices drop.
Additionally, the Department of Energy (DOE) noted that transitioning to higher blend levels, such as Ethanol 20 (E20), a fuel blend consisting of 20% bioethanol and 80% gasoline, could reduce pump prices by as much as PhP5 per liter compared to current E10 formulations.
According to the DOE, blending locally produced ethanol also enhances energy security by reducing the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.
However, according to the livestock and poultry sectors, the Philippines currently meets only 62.7% of its yellow corn requirements domestically, and the crop comprises roughly half of all animal feed formulations.
With the hog industry still recovering from African Swine Fever, groups like the United Broiler Raisers Association warned that diverting local corn to fuel production could force meat producers into a greater dependence on costly imports.
As a potential middle ground, the Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. signaled an openness to incorporating Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), a nutrient-dense byproduct of corn ethanol production, into animal feed mixes to help offset supply pressures.
While this proposal drew cautious interest, livestock groups maintained that DDGS would not fully compensate for a reduction in the direct corn supply.
Next steps
To reconcile these opposing concerns, the Department of Agrarian Reform and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples are exploring the utilization of idle landholdings and ancestral domains to expand corn production without displacing existing food supplies.
The DOE emphasized that any policy rollout will be evidence-based, carefully monitored, and introduced in stages.
Stakeholders also highlighted the need to balance feed and fuel uses, conduct updated studies on DDGS utilization, and strengthen direct market linkages between farmers and end-users. Overall, the proposed JAO amendment was viewed positively for its potential to expand market opportunities and improve the income of corn farmers, subject to appropriate safeguards.
The 黑料网-NSC Secretariat and the National Corn Program will consolidate all consultation feedback into a formal report for the National Biofuels Board’s consideration in its upcoming review. | Jezebel Campaniel
