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Press Release
PHILIPPINES-US-JAPAN TRILATERAL COOPERATION HIGHLIGHTED IN PHL BIOFUELS BOARD DELEGATION’S CALL ON CONSUL GENERAL PAEZ AND VIRTUAL MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR EMANUEL IN CHICAGO
Consul General J. Susana V. Paez (upper row, 2nd from left), together with National Biofuels Board delegation officials and representatives from the US Grains Council and Illinois Corn Marketing Board, listen intently to US Ambassador to Japan H.E. Rahm Emanuel as he speaks via Zoom. (Photo: Chicago PCG/Kath Lobien)
08 August 2024 (Chicago) – An inter-agency delegation comprised of members of the Philippine National Biofuels Board (NBB), accompanied by representatives of the US Grains Council and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, called on Consul General J. Susana V. Paez on 06 August 2024 at the National Louis University, which is located in the same building as the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago.
Officials from the Department of Energy (DOE, which chairs the NBB), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Sugar Regulatory Commission, Department of Finance, Department of Transportation, Department of Labor and Employment, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Sugar Regulatory Commission, and Board of Investments made the visit as part of their US Ethanol Study Mission to Illinois on 04-10 August 2024. The delegation was led by DOE Directors Ruby de Guzman and Rino Abad, DA OIC Assistant Secretary U-Nichols Manalo, and DOST Executive Director Enrico Paringit.
Consul General Paez welcomed the delegation to Chicago, and thanked the US Grains Council (represented by Regional Director Caleb Wurth, Deputy Regional Director Chris Markey, and Regional Ethanol Consultant Kent Yeo) and the Illinois Corn Board (through Exports & Logistics Director Collin Watters and Biofuels & Research Director Dave Loos) for organizing the study tour. The tour aimed to provide insights and understanding of the U.S. bioethanol supply chain, quality control, and monitoring of bioethanol supply and demand, including best practices, in line with the recent adoption of a new Philippine fuel standard (Department Circular No. 2024-05-0014 announced by the DOE on 20 May 2024) which allows the inclusion of 20% ethanol (E20) in gasoline products beginning 01 October 2024. Consul General expressed hope for the mission’s success in helping meet the Philippines biofuel needs and climate change commitments without compromising food security objectives.
After the call, the delegation and Philippine Consulate officials met virtually with H.E. Rahm Emanuel, US Ambassador to Japan and former Chicago City Mayor. Ambassador Emanuel articulated a vision for a win-win-win solution through trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan and the Philippines, where environmentally-friendly ethanol from Illinois produced with carbon sequestration and processed through job-generating refineries in the Philippines would be used in American and Japanese-made, biofuel-ready vehicles in the transportation sector to help the Philippines achieve fuel affordability, energy security, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. END
US Ambassador to Japan H.E. Rahm Emanuel (left screen) listens to the views of the Philippine delegation (right screen) during their virtual meeting. (Photo: Chicago PCG/Kath Lobien)
CIllinois Corn Marketing Board Director of Exports & Logistics Collin Watters (foreground) discusses a point with Consul General Paez (5th from right) as other participants listen. (Photo: Chicago PCG/Kath Lobien)
Consul General Paez (seated, middle) poses with members of the Philippine delegation, Philippine Consulate officials, and representatives from the US Grains Council and Illinois Corn Board. (Photo: Chicago PCG/ Kath Lobien)
Consul General J. Susana V. Paez (upper row, 2nd from left), together with National Biofuels Board delegation officials and representatives from the US Grains Council and Illinois Corn Marketing Board, listen intently to US Ambassador to Japan H.E. Rahm Emanuel as he speaks via Zoom. (Photo: Chicago PCG/Kath Lobien)
08 August 2024 (Chicago) – An inter-agency delegation comprised of members of the Philippine National Biofuels Board (NBB), accompanied by representatives of the US Grains Council and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, called on Consul General J. Susana V. Paez on 06 August 2024 at the National Louis University, which is located in the same building as the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago.
Officials from the Department of Energy (DOE, which chairs the NBB), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Sugar Regulatory Commission, Department of Finance, Department of Transportation, Department of Labor and Employment, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Sugar Regulatory Commission, and Board of Investments made the visit as part of their US Ethanol Study Mission to Illinois on 04-10 August 2024. The delegation was led by DOE Directors Ruby de Guzman and Rino Abad, DA OIC Assistant Secretary U-Nichols Manalo, and DOST Executive Director Enrico Paringit.
Consul General Paez welcomed the delegation to Chicago, and thanked the US Grains Council (represented by Regional Director Caleb Wurth, Deputy Regional Director Chris Markey, and Regional Ethanol Consultant Kent Yeo) and the Illinois Corn Board (through Exports & Logistics Director Collin Watters and Biofuels & Research Director Dave Loos) for organizing the study tour. The tour aimed to provide insights and understanding of the U.S. bioethanol supply chain, quality control, and monitoring of bioethanol supply and demand, including best practices, in line with the recent adoption of a new Philippine fuel standard (Department Circular No. 2024-05-0014 announced by the DOE on 20 May 2024) which allows the inclusion of 20% ethanol (E20) in gasoline products beginning 01 October 2024. Consul General expressed hope for the mission’s success in helping meet the Philippines biofuel needs and climate change commitments without compromising food security objectives.
After the call, the delegation and Philippine Consulate officials met virtually with H.E. Rahm Emanuel, US Ambassador to Japan and former Chicago City Mayor. Ambassador Emanuel articulated a vision for a win-win-win solution through trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan and the Philippines, where environmentally-friendly ethanol from Illinois produced with carbon sequestration and processed through job-generating refineries in the Philippines would be used in American and Japanese-made, biofuel-ready vehicles in the transportation sector to help the Philippines achieve fuel affordability, energy security, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. END