SUGAR REGULATORY ADMINISTRATION

The signing of Joint Administrative Order No. 2008-1 (JAO 2008-1) entitled “Guidelines Governing The Biofuel Feedstocks Production, And Biofuels And Biofuel Blends Production, Distribution and Sale Under Republic Act No. 9367” was held on December  10, 2008 at the PNOC Board Room, PNOC Bldg., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

The signatories are the members of the National Biofuels Board (NBB), namely, Secretary Angelo T. Reyes of the Department of Energy (DOE) and NBB Chair, Secretary Arthur C. Yap of the Department of Agriculture (DA),  Secretary Peter B. Favila of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Secretary Margarito B. Teves of the Department of Finance (DOF), Secretary Marianito D. Roque of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),  Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Administrator Oscar G. Garin of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA),  Administrator Rafael L. Coscolluela of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and NBB Vice-Chair, Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Secretary Jose L. Atienza of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and Chairman Eugenio A. Insigne of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

The JAO contains the omnibus guidelines for the investors and stakeholders of the biofuels industry designed to help facilitate and promote investments and avoid overlapping of regulatory requirements among implementing agencies and departments of the government.  It also provides for the creation of a “One-Stop-Shop” that shall accept, screen and process applications for certifications, licenses, and permits to operate as a biofuel feedstock producer,  biofuel producer, biofuel blend producer, distributor  and seller.  The NBB One-Stop-Shop will soon hold its office at the 2nd floor, Sugar Center Bldg., SRA compound, Diliman, Quezon City.

The crafting of the omnibus guidelines or the JAO was initiated by the Energy  Utilization and Management Bureau of the Department of Energy (EUMB-DOE) headed by Director Mario Marasigan.

Public consultations were spearheaded by the Office of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and NBB Vice-Chair Rafael L. Coscolluela in coordination with the technical working group on biofuels with representatives from the various implementing agencies.

The JAO was approved by the National Biofuels Board (NBB) during its regular meeting last September 19, 2008.  It was presented to the NBB by Vice-Chair and SRA Administrator Rafael L. Coscolluela.

Aside from the JAO, the NBB is also responsible for the implementation of the National Biofuels Program which contains the general framework of development for the biofuels industry.