The Government of Philippines is investigating the possibilities of using algae as a biofuel feedstock in the country. The Department of Agriculture (DA) of Philippines is in talks with renowned algae experts regarding the same.

The DA – Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) called together the algae fuel experts for a preliminary consultation meeting which included Dr. Joel L. Cuello, professor of Biosystems Engineering of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from University of Arizona in the United States; professors Rex Demafelis, Lourdes Cardenas, and Nerissa Torreta of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB); Dr. Nemesio Montano of Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippine-Diliman (UPD); Professor Caridad Jimenez, University of the Philippines-Visayas (UPV); Dr. Fabian Dayrit of the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU); and Edwin Bacani of the Congressional Committee on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE).

The meeting was also convened to conceive the idea for the developmental framework in which UPLB, UPD, UPV and AdMU will form the core organizations of the program. BAR will be acting as the facilitator and a link between the participating institutions and other government agencies like DA-Biotechnology Program Office, DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, COMSTE, and the Committee on Agriculture and Food, to name a few.

According to Dr Cuello, algae are very good candidates as biofuel feedstocks as they are renewable and they have high productivity in terms of oil. He pointed out that Philippines is a natural habitat of algae and so they will benefit the country not only as a candidate for biofuel production but also in terms of nutraceuticals and other high value organic fertilizers.  Anthony Obligado of BAR-Technology and Commercialization Division (TCD) stated that the research is a welcome and positive development.

Link: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/323469/govt-looks-algae-potentials