More business establishments have committed to support the production of biodiesel from used cooking oil through an initiative led by Deputy Speaker and Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez in partnership with biofuel firm Green Solution.PH.

Dubbed “Collect. Recycle. Renew,” the program has drawn the participation of 26 hotels and food establishments and has benefited 10 coastal barangays, a report from the congressman’s office on Tuesday showed.

“The collective effort was able to convert 5,620 liters of used oil into biodiesel and has helped about a thousand people in Bacolod. This shows how simple actions, when done together, can create meaningful impact,” it said.

Participating establishments joined the launch of the partnership during the program held at the SMX Convention Center on Monday.

In his message, Benitez said the biodiesel program provides an alternative solution amid the increasing prices of diesel fuel being utilized by the city’s fisherfolk communities.

“If diesel prices reach PHP80 to PHP100 per liter, many fisherfolk can no longer afford fuel for their pump boats,” he added.

Benitez enjoined restaurants, hotels, households, government agencies, local government units and barangays to support the “Collect. Recycle. Renew” initiative.

“All of us must work together if we want this program to succeed and benefit more people,” the lawmaker said, adding that biodiesel produced from used cooking oil costs only PHP22 to PHP25 per liter.

In an interview after the launch, Ian Fred Solas, president of Green Solution.PH, told the Philippine News Agency that 33 business establishments have already signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) to support the “Collect. Recycle. Renew” program.

“This MOA is a breakthrough in our program. The stakeholders and partners will voluntarily donate used cooking oil. We will award them a plaque of appreciation as part of the incentives, which is also in fulfillment of their corporate social responsibility. Their used oil will be donated to the fisherfolk and farmers,” he added.

Solas said they aim to reach 65 business establishments to become partners by July.

“We are just waiting for the certification from the Environment Management Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which is a requirement of some establishments,” he said.

“We have a collection team from the office of Congressman Albee (Benitez). They go around Bacolod to collect used cooking oil. We also have a collection area, where households can bring their used cooking oil,” Solas said.

The “Collect. Recycle. Renew” program is backed by the Bacolod Cooking Oil and Grease Trap Regulation Ordinance, which provides for a policy to prevent and/or minimize the health hazards on ground and water pollution caused by the improper disposal, transport, storage, reuse, recycling, or reprocessing of used/waste cooking oil and grease trap waste by food establishments and other responsible entities. (PNA)