• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Stressing that it is an immediate solution to the ongoing shortage of fuel supply, Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is promoting the biodiesel project in barangays of highly-urbanized Bacolod City, which project started two years ago, while he was still the local chief executive.
Benitez led on Monday the launching of the initiative called “Collect, Recycle and Renew”, which aims to transform the used cooking oil into biodiesel, as an alternative fuel, especially for fisherfolk in the coastal areas of Bacolod City.
He tapped the company IF Green Technologies to produce the biofuel, which derived from the oil sludge that had been contributing to floods in Bacolod City.
If these prototype turns out to be successful, we will use it as a livelihood program for every barangay, especially those with fisherfolk communities, said Deputy Speaker Benitez, who also led the distribution of 400 liters of biofuel to fisherfolk of barangays Banago, Singcang Airport, población 1 and 2, all in Bacolod City.
The distribution of biofuel from used cooking oil donated by partner-establishments, like Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod, aims to ease operational costs while encouraging the use of cleaner energy in coastal communities of Bacolod City.
Engr. Ian Fred Solas, IF Green Technologies Chief Executive Officer, said farmers and fisherfolk may buy the biofuel at P35 to P40 per liter, which is being manufactured through the use of a “Biodiesel Brewing Machine.”
Solas said they are presently using three machines.
Solas said the brewing machines can process 2,000 to 2,500 liters of used cooking oil per day.
He noted that 80 percent of fisherfolk costs goes to fuel, and 10 percent each for labor and their food. With this project, they may save a lot of their income.
Mayor Greg Gasataya and Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Manuel Frederick Ko, who also witnessed the activity, expressed their full support to the project.
“We just have to scale up production so that more Bacolodnons can benefit from it,” Benitez said.
“This initiative is about transforming waste into a resource that directly benefits our people. By supporting our fisherfolk with sustainable fuel alternatives, we are not only protecting the environment but also strengthening livelihoods,” the Bacolod solon said.
The “Collect, Recycle and Renew” project “encourages households, businesses, and communities to actively participate in collecting and recycling used oil, turning everyday waste into a valuable energy source.”
“It is also expected to contribute to reduced pollution, improved waste management, and the promotion of renewable energy practices in Bacolod City,” it added
It also marks a major step toward sustainable energy and community-driven environmental solutions, as it aims to transform waste into a direct resource for the city’s coastal residents, Benitez said.
“By supporting our fisherfolk with sustainable fuel alternatives, we are not only protecting the environment but also strengthening livelihoods,” he stressed.*
