The Philippines and Thailand have forged an agreement that would push for the development of biofuels as an alternative transport fuel.

In a joint statement, the energy ministers of the two countries emphasized the abundance of agricultural products within the Association of The Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region that could be used as feedstock for the production of biofuels such as ethanol.

The agreement was in response to the call of Thailand's Energy Minister Prommin Lertsuridej during the 22nd ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting held last June in Manila, urging the promotion and utilization of ethanol as among the biofuels products that could be used for the transport sector.

The energy officials noted that the accelerated development of the regional biofuels initiatives would be mutually beneficial to both countries.

As part of the agreement, the two countries also agreed to work hand-in-hand in the formulation of harmonized regional fuel standards for ethanol-blended gasoline.

They will likewise push for the rationalization of the automobile industry in ASEAN to encourage car manufacturers to use engines suitable for ethanol-blended fuel.

The energy leaders also agreed to enter into technical collaborations through their respective state-controlled oil refiners PTT and Petron Corp. for the distribution and logistics of fuel ethanol.

The agreement also tasked Thailand's PTT Research and Development Institute to extend technical assistance to the Philippines' Department of Energy (DOE) on the testing of vehicles using ethanol.

Given the need for a concerted regional effort, the Philippines has thus endorsed Thailand to become ASEAN's Regional Center for Biofuels.