Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Zubiri chides Biofuels board for inaction By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
IRKED by the alleged complacency of the National Biofuels Board (NBB), Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri challenged NBB officials to resign as he reprimanded them for meeting only twice since the passage of the Biofuels Act and the completion of its implementing rules and regulation (IRR).
Zubiri told Sun.Star Bacolod he will meet with Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to polish whatever areas need completion and will convene the NBB in two weeks time.
He also assured that by June, an improved IRR on Biofuels would be out.
"I told them this is an order or resign. We cannot wait any longer, especially for Negros Occidental and the rest of the sugar-producing provinces of the country. Our total sugar production can supply 80 percent of the total fossil fuel needs of the country," Zubiri said.
He added: "Imagine, diutay na lang gid ang fossil fuel needs ta nga i-import (all we need is 20 percent fossil fuel imports) by assigning all sugar to biofuels. We have studies that will validate claims that it is more profitable to engage in biofuels and import cheap sugar costing only P665."
He also claimed that by August this year, the oil cartel will raise cost of fuel to US$200 per barrel according to Deutscshe Bank and Credit Suisse. "This will translate into P60 to P100 per liter in our Philippine peso," said Zubiri.
"Let me assure the entire country (that) biofuels is not the cause of increasing food prices. Waay pa gani ta ka-sugod (We have not even started). Government policy causes food price hikes. I am only pushing for the conversion of sugar to biofuels and all the provinces with comparative advantages. Food provinces will continue producing food. Definitely not provinces that produce corn and rice," Zubiri stressed.
