Cardinal Jose Advincula, the Archbishop of Manila, is mounting an unconventional response to the energy crisis caused by the United States-Israel war on Iran. Source: Crux.
In a circular posted on social media on Sunday, Cardinal Advincula rallied his 3.3-million-strong archdiocese to collect used cooking oil for conversion into biodiesel.
Biodiesel “is a renewable, biodegradable fuel manufactured domestically from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease,” according to the US energy department. It is often mixed with petroleum diesel and is viewed as a way to lessen the Philippines’ dependence on imported oil.
The Philippines imports 95-98 per cent of its oil from the Middle East, making it one of the countries hardest hit by the war.
The Philippines has only enough oil to last 52 days as of April 21, according to the Marcos Government, which is now scrambling for alternatives, including fuel rationing.
Cardinal Advincula, 74, said the archdiocese is collecting used cooking oil “in the face of growing global challenges related to energy supply and environmental sustainability”.
He explained that used cooking oil, when properly collected, “can be transformed into biodiesel, a renewable and cleaner fuel derived from recycled oils”.
He said that producing biofuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions “by as much as 80 per cent compared to conventional diesel, while also supporting local and sustainable energy alternatives”.
The Manila prelate said the new program seeks to “organise the systematic collection of used cooking oil from households, establishments, parishes and various Church institutions”.
Cardinal Advincula requested each parish “to designate a collection point for used cooking oil,” and encouraged parishioners “to store used cooking oil in clean, sealed containers, free from food waste and water”.
The used cooking oil will then “undergo proper processing, including collection, pre-treatment, transesterification, and purification,” Cardinal Advincula said.
Once ready to use, the processed oil “will be made available to those who submitted their used cooking oil.” The cardinal said a donation per litre will be requested to cover the ministry’s processing and hauling costs.
FULL STORY
Manila archbishop collects cooking oil to help Filipinos weather energy crisis (By Paterno R. Esmaquel II, Crux)
