Let’s Keep the Cadence Going – Philippines for SAF!

The momentum toward enabling policies for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the Philippines continues to build following the Philippine SAF Roundtable Dialogue held on 3 June 2026 in Pasay City. The event was organized by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Board of Investments (BOI), with the Island Skies Alliance (ISA) participating as a key stakeholder.

The Dialogue helped sustain the momentum generated by the Philippine SAF Policy Development Workshop jointly organized by ISA and CAAP on 24 March 2026, particularly in support of the ongoing work of the National Biofuels Board (NBB) SAF Committee.

During the March workshop, representatives from the NBB SAF Committee—including its Chair, CAAP; Vice Chair, the Department of Energy (DOE); and member agencies such as the BOI, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)—identified priority feedstocks that warrant immediate attention. Discussions covered both mature conversion technologies, such as Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA), and emerging pathways with increasing technological readiness, including Fischer-Tropsch (FT), Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ), and Power-to-Liquid (PtL), to fully harness the country's abundant biomass resources.

The workshop also underscored the importance of establishing a practical national SAF blending target, such as a 2030 blend target, consistent with the commitments and policy directions adopted by neighboring Asian countries. A clear target would provide stronger market signals, encourage investment, and accelerate coordinated action across government and industry. Continued engagements such as the GGGI Roundtable Dialogue are essential in maintaining this momentum.

During the Dialogue, ISA SAF Project Innovation Lead Leandro Cruz moderated the panel discussion on Policy, Regulatory, and Institutional Coordination. The panel emphasized that a supportive policy environment is fundamental to developing the Philippines' SAF manufacturing capability, meeting regional demand, strengthening national energy security, and advancing aviation decarbonization.

The discussion also reinforced that meaningful progress will require sustained multi-stakeholder collaboration among government agencies—including CAAP, DOE & the SAF Committee—regional partners (e.g., ASEAN), airlines (e.g. IATA), aircraft manufacturers, fuel producers, technology providers, feedstock developers, academic and research institutions, specialist consulting firms, project developers, and non-government organizations.

ISA looks forward to more collaborative public-private initiatives that will help operationalize SAF production and deployment in the Philippines. As stakeholders continue supporting the work of the NBB SAF Committee, the sector remains optimistic that a practical national SAF target will soon be established, bringing the country one step closer to a more sustainable aviation future. Let’s go PiliPinas SAF!

#PhilippinesForSAF