Bacolod may have just ‘cooked’ a fuel fix—quite literally

With rising fuel costs, one thing is for sure: practical alternatives are taking shape as this initiative from Bacolod City turns excess oil from lechon manok and fast-food fryers into biodiesel, offering a sustainable energy source for the community.

The initiative “Collect, Recycle, and Renew” led by Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez in partnership with IF Green Technologies collected and converted  cooking oil from restaurants and fast-food chains  into biofuel, primarily to support local fisherfolk.

Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable fuel for diesel engines obtained from biological sources such as animal fats, vegetable oils, recycled grease, and other organic sources.

Through a biodiesel brewing machine that performs transesterification, a chemical process where animal fat or vegetable oil reacts with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst to primarily produce biodiesel and thick, syrupy glycerin, approximately 2,000 to 2,500 liters of used cooking oil are converted into 1,000 to 2,000 liters of biodiesel daily.

Generally, biodiesel can be used as-is, but it is often blended with petroleum diesel to improve engine compatibility, cold-weather performance, and fuel stability 

“By supporting our fisherfolk with sustainable fuel alternatives, we are not only protecting the environment but also strengthening livelihoods,” said Benitez. “It is also expected to contribute to reduced pollution, improved waste management, and the promotion of renewable energy practices in Bacolod City.”

Though the project was started two years ago to address floods caused by hardened oil sludges in the city, it has now become an immediate solution for the local community amid the oil crisis, selling at significantly cheaper prices of ₱35 to ₱45 per liter.

Since its launch, the Office of Benitez has distributed 400 liters of biodiesel to 100 fisherfolk from Barangays 1, 2, Banago, and Singcang.

Who knew fryer grease could do more than cook meals—it could power engines, support local fisherfolk, and ease the sting of rising fuel prices.