Manila: Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday expressed his support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call for Congress to amend the country's biofuels policy by giving the government flexibility in implementing biofuel requirements to help cushion the impact of fuel price shocks on consumers.

According to Philippines News Agency, Estrada emphasized the importance of oil in driving the economy, affecting sectors from transportation and agriculture to the cost of goods and services. As global oil supply concerns continue to affect fuel markets, he highlighted the need to ensure that sustainability-promoting policies do not inadvertently burden Filipino consumers.

Estrada noted that passing Senate Bill 1485, or the proposed 'Murang Langis Act,' aligns with the President's call. The bill aims to utilize cheaper bioethanol and mitigate additional fuel price pressures arising from supply disruptions in the Gulf region.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means is set to discuss the bill on Wednesday. It proposes a mechanism to temporarily halt the blending requirement, which currently adds 5 percent to gasoline or diesel prices.

The bill allows the President, based on recommendations from the National Biofuels Board (NBB) and the Department of Energy (DOE), to suspend the mandatory biofuel requirement temporarily if the cost of blended fuels rises at least 5 percent above that of pure petroleum fuel. This suspension can last no longer than one year.

Estrada remarked that while the Biofuels Act was created to promote cleaner fuels and support the agricultural sector, policies must remain adaptable to extraordinary global market disruptions.