Tacloban City (May 4) -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s major thrust of looking for alternative sources of fuel will get a much-needed boost as an international conference dubbed as Biofuels and Feedstocks Philippines, will be conducted on May 23-24 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel and is expected to bring together the most influential people in the biofuels industry to discuss the development and growth of biofuels.

No less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will deliver the opening address on May 23, Ms. Theresa Trinidad Gapaz, a communications specialist of PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation, bared.

PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation is the official host sponsor with the support of the Department of Energy, of the conference which is being organized by Singaporean-based Centre for Management Technology.

The highlights of the conference are: Biofuels framework and fiscal incentives in the Philippines; Global biofuels markets policies, markets, challenges and barriers; Price, supply, economics and quality analysis of various biofuels feedstocks; Biofuels supply chain blending, storage and handling; Ethanol and its feedstock options and supply; and Round table discussion by oil companies on their strategies in Biofuels.

There will be a half-day focus on Jatropha Cultivation and Processing. Jatropha experts from India, Myanmar and the Philippines will highlight important issues concerning the non-edible oil derived from Jatropha.

The PNOC Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC-AFC), formerly PNOC Petrochemical Development Corporation, was established in July 2006. Its primary mandate is to explore, develop and accelerate the utilization and commercialization of alternative fuels in the country.

As a secondary mandate, the PNOC-AFC shall also pursue the development, operation and management of a petrochemical industrial estate. The complex, located in Limay and Mariveles, Bataan, which is approximately 530 hectares, is to be developed in phases.

The PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company with the mandate to explore, develop and accelerate the utilization and commercialization of existing and emerging alternative sources of energy and technologies and carry on the business of alternative fuels and other related activities.

Another mandate is to engage in and carry the business of petrochemicals in any and /or all its activities and to become one of the most prominent alternative energy-producing companies in the region.

PNOC AFC is led by Secretary Renato S. Velasco as chairman and President and CEO Peter Anthony Abaya.