Question & AnswerQ&A (LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 888)
The Committee was created by President Ferdinand E. Marcos by virtue of the powers vested in him by the Constitution.
The economy faces exorbitant costs and supply uncertainties with petroleum, and the shift is necessary to ensure continuous supply of motive fuel, maintain rural employment, and the flow of purchasing power to rural areas.
The members are the Minister of Energy (Chairman), Philippine Sugar Commissioner (Co-Chairman), Minister of Finance (Vice-Chairman), Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Industry, and Minister of Land Reform.
They are tasked to submit a prioritized listing of agricultural lands that are best suited for alcohol plantations with a schedule of availability, ensuring minimal economic disturbance to other agricultural sectors.
PhilSuCom is to accelerate alcohol projects in Hinoba-an and Cagayan Valley, submit progress reports, and prepare an economic cost study of sugar-based alcohol production for the Committee.
The Ministry of Industry is to plan the design and manufacture of car and truck engines compatible with alcohol fuels, considering dual-firing technologies and integrating these in progressive vehicle manufacturing programs.
It is to make recommendations on reducing or eliminating sales taxes on alcohol to enable alcogas to compete effectively with gasoline prices, in consultation with other relevant agencies.
The Committee is authorized to constitute smaller sub-committees and to call upon any person or institution for specialized planning of aspects of the program as deemed appropriate.
Because it is regenerative, has been technically proven feasible through experiments, and could reduce reliance on expensive and uncertain petroleum supplies.