‘Murang Langis’ bill risks coco farmers income
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The Philippine Biodiesel Association (TPBA) warned that House Bill 4151 could threaten millions of Filipino livelihoods, particularly those tied to the coconut industry.
In a statement on Tuesday, TPBA Executive Director Ramon Taniola said the bill, also known as the “Murang Langis Act,” could create uncertainty, slow farm modernization, reduce rural income stability, and reverse gains in air quality and public health.
“This is bigger than fuel. This is about people — those who grow our coconuts, those who breathe our air, and those who will inherit the country we are building today. HB 4151 puts all of that at risk,” Taniola said.
TPBA warned that suspending the mandate could slow rural development and undermine the government’s coconut replanting program, which aims to plant 100 million new trees over three years with P3.5 billion in funding.
The group said that removing stability from the coconut market does not just affect companies—it impacts families, entire communities, and the 25 million Filipinos whose livelihoods depend on coconuts.
TPBA described the biodiesel mandate as a bridge connecting today’s rural incomes to a modern coconut economy, cautioning that HB 4151 could put that bridge at risk.
The current B3 mandate provides a steady income for farmers, traders, millers, processors, and transporters nationwide. In many coconut-producing provinces, it forms the backbone of local livelihoods.
Under the bill, coco-biodiesel blending could be suspended when blended diesel costs 5 percent more than pure diesel. TPBA noted, however, that blended diesel is often at parity or even cheaper, and its improved mileage offsets any minor price difference.
TPBA also pointed out the broader benefits of coco-biodiesel. The program can reduce soot by up to 95 percent and prevent P1.86–2.2 trillion in annual pollution-related health costs.
The group said cleaner air is a national benefit, with health savings alone outweighing any temporary difference in pump prices. Consumers also gain from 6 to 10 percent better fuel mileage, generating P17–32.6 billion in net annual savings.
“Protecting biodiesel means protecting people. And in the end, that is what national policy should always stand for,” Taniola added.
