Philippines : Sugar workers group backs proposal to raise ethanol blend
National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines has backed a proposal to raise ethanol blending from E10 to E15, saying it will boost demand for bioethanol, increase incomes, and protect jobs in the sugar sector. The move is seen as supporting rural livelihoods and strengthening the country’s energy security.
THE National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (Nacusip–TUCP) expressed strong support for Negros Occidental Fifth District Representative Emilio Bernardino Yulo’s proposal to increase the country’s ethanol blend from E10 (10 percent) to E15 (15 percent).
Roland de la Cruz, Nacusip-TUCP national president, said in a statement that from the standpoint of the labor sector, this policy shift is not just an energy measure but a lifeline for thousands of sugar workers, mill employees, and bioethanol plant personnel whose livelihoods depend on a stable and expanding industry.
He said raising the blend to E15 will significantly boost demand for locally produced bioethanol, directly translating into higher productivity and greater income security for sugar farmers and workers.
“Every liter of bioethanol produced sustains jobs in rural communities where employment opportunities are scarce and economic vulnerability is high,” he added.
De la Cruz noted that the Social Amelioration and Welfare Program (SAWP) under Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Department Order 144-15 is a critical safety net for workers in the biofuel sector.
De la Cruz said the program mandates a P0.07 lien per liter of molasses-based bioethanol, which funds livelihood projects, emergency assistance, and financial benefits for workers.
“Increasing the blend to E15 directly increases these funds, strengthening the social protection system that workers rely on,” he said.
If the blending requirement increases, he added that the volume of bioethanol sold by local producers will likewise increase, which will result in higher lien collections — of which about 80 percent goes straight to sugar workers as cash bonuses or financial benefits.
De la Cruz stressed that this is real money that goes to real families, adding that any delay or rollback in blending requirements is a direct attack on workers’ welfare.
Nacusip–TUCP also highlighted its active role in the Tripartite Consultative Council for SAWP in the Bioethanol Sector, where field and mill workers are represented in shaping policies that protect their rights and ensure fair distribution of benefits.
The federation, along with the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) and Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc. (Confed), firmly oppose any legislative attempt to suspend the mandatory ethanol blending program.
Nacusip–TUCP warned that suspending the requirement would cripple the bioethanol industry, slash income opportunities for sugarcane farmers, and put thousands of workers at risk of job loss.
“Suspending the blending mandate will not only weaken the industry—it will push workers deeper into poverty,” De la Cruz said.
He said lawmakers must recognize that the E15 transition is not merely an economic adjustment. It is a pro-worker, pro-farmer, and pro-community policy that strengthens rural economies and protects the country’s labor force.
Nacusip–TUCP also urged Congress to prioritize the welfare of workers and reject any measure that undermines the progress made in building a stable, job-generating bioethanol sector.
Amid rising fuel prices, Yulo earlier called on the National Government to increase the country’s ethanol blend requirement to cushion fuel price hikes.
Yulo said the fuel blend increase, from E10 to E15, is a practical measure to avert possible fuel shortage, and provide relief to local sugar industry and the public. (MAP)
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Source : Sunstar
