The Philippines has reaffirmed its support for regional cooperation to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as Southeast Asian countries seek to reduce aviation emissions and build the policy frameworks and infrastructure needed to expand production and use.
Raul del Rosario, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), outlined the country’s position at the 26th ASEAN Energy Business Forum on 6 October 2026. He highlighted the importance of cross-border coordination in establishing Southeast Asia as a sustainable aviation fuel hub.
Del Rosario said the Philippine government was working with regional counterparts to develop enabling policies, infrastructure and sustainability initiatives. He also pointed to the National Biofuels Board’s SAF Technical Working Group as a mechanism for engaging communities, industry stakeholders and development partners.
The discussions bring aviation into the wider regional energy transition agenda, with governments, industry and development organisations involved in efforts to establish the institutional and technical foundations for SAF deployment.
Philippines advances policy coordination on SAF
According to CAAP, the Philippines is working to strengthen the legal, institutional and technical frameworks required to support sustainable aviation fuel development.
Speaking at the forum, Del Rosario said:
“Through the National Biofuels Board SAF Technical Working Group, we are engaging communities, industry stakeholders and development partners to ensure that our legal, institutional, and technical frameworks are robust and future-ready.”
The working group provides a channel for coordination among stakeholders involved in developing the country’s SAF framework. The announcement, however, did not specify a national SAF production target, a timetable for commercial production or any new investment commitments.
The focus on policy and institutional readiness highlights an early stage of market development in which regulatory clarity, stakeholder coordination and infrastructure planning are important to future deployment.
ASEAN forum brings together governments and industry stakeholders
The 26th ASEAN Energy Business Forum convened government representatives, energy-sector organisations, private companies and development partners to discuss regional energy priorities.
Participants included representatives from the Philippine Department of Energy, the Board of Investments–Resource-Based Industries Service, the ASEAN Centre for Energy, ASEAN member states and other organisations involved in advancing sustainable aviation fuel.
Cross-border cooperation could help regional stakeholders address shared challenges, including the development of fuel supply chains, technical standards, infrastructure requirements and investment frameworks. However, the forum announcement did not identify specific joint projects, agreed regional production targets or new SAF supply arrangements.
For Southeast Asia, the potential to develop a regional SAF market will depend on how national policies, feedstock resources, production facilities and aviation fuel distribution systems can be coordinated.
Regional SAF cooperation gains a concrete development milestone
The wider ASEAN push gained a separate development on 6 October, when the ASEAN Centre for Energy and Airbus signed a three-year memorandum of understanding to support sustainable aviation fuel development across the region. The agreement was signed during the ASEAN SAF Convergence Forum, held alongside the 26th ASEAN Energy Business Forum in Manila.
The agreement provides a regional cooperation framework alongside the Philippines’ stated intention to develop enabling policies and infrastructure. It does not, by itself, establish new production capacity or guarantee future SAF supply.
The Philippines is also considering domestic measures to establish an initial SAF market. A report published by BusinessMirror on 6 October said the government was working towards a proposed 1% SAF blending mandate by 2030 and considering SAF production as a strategic industry for investment purposes. These measures were reported as policy plans, not as an already implemented mandate.
Bioenergy Business Analysis
The Philippines’ support for ASEAN cooperation on sustainable aviation fuel reflects a shift from recognising SAF’s decarbonisation potential towards developing the policy, institutional and commercial arrangements needed to establish a market. The combination of national policy development and regional cooperation could help create opportunities for feedstock suppliers, fuel producers, technology providers and aviation fuel distributors.
The proposed 1% blending requirement by 2030, reported by BusinessMirror, could provide an initial demand signal if it is formally adopted. However, a blending target alone will not establish a viable domestic industry. The Philippines will also need to assess sustainable feedstock availability, production pathways, fuel certification, investment requirements and the infrastructure needed to deliver compliant SAF to airports. Agricultural residues and other waste-derived resources could be relevant, but their suitability and availability would need to be established through detailed assessments.
The ASEAN Centre for Energy–Airbus agreement adds a regional dimension to these efforts. Cooperation could support knowledge-sharing and coordination among stakeholders, but the impact will depend on the programme’s implementation, the development of bankable projects and the establishment of dependable fuel supply chains. Regional ambition should not be mistaken for confirmed production capacity or binding fuel commitments.
