SRA Circular Letter No. 30 outlines the guidelines for the production of bioethanol in the Philippines, emphasizing the certification of existing sugarcane plantations as feedstock areas and plant sites. It establishes criteria for certification, including ensuring sufficient domestic sugar supply and maintaining the viability of sugar mills. Bioethanol producers must register with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) prior to operations and comply with various reporting and fee requirements. The circular also includes provisions for monitoring fees, penalties for violations, and the creation of regulatory groups to oversee bioethanol production and compliance. The guidelines aim to foster a regulated and sustainable bioethanol industry while supporting local sugarcane farmers.
July 1, 2009
SRA CIRCULAR LETTER NO. 30
SUBJECT | : | Guidelines on the Production of Bioethanol |
Pursuant to the policies on bioethanol fuel production embodied in Sugar Order No. 14, series of 2008-2009, the following guidelines shall be implemented by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA): aSEDHC
I. Certification of existing sugarcane plantations as feedstock areas and plant site for bioethanol production
A. Criteria
The following existing sugarcane plantations shall qualify for certification as feedstock production areas and plant site for bioethanol production to ensure sufficiency of domestic sugar supply and maintain the viability of sugar mills:
1. All existing sugarcane plantation areas not covered by any existing sugar milling district (such as the Antique area, etc.);
2. All existing sugarcane plantation areas covered by existing sugar milling districts that will not exceed the Overall E-Cane Quota (OEQ) for bioethanol production;
• The Sugar Board shall promulgate a Sugar Order that will determine the OEQ for bioethanol production and the mechanism of implementation thereof, in a particular crop year based on preliminary crop estimates and after assessment of the sugarcane supply situation for sugar manufacture;
3. Separate Certifications shall be issued for feedstock production areas and plant site areas;
4. Plant site areas are subject to land conversion from agricultural to agro-industrial to be deliberated by the National Technical Committee on Land Use Matters (NTECLUM-DA/DAR/DENR)
B. Requirements
B.1 Certification of Existing Sugarcane Plantations as Feedstock Areas
a) Letter addressed to the SRA Administrator requesting certification, original copy
b) Filled-up Application Form (SRA Form B-1), original copy
c) SRA Prescribed Matrix of List of Areas for SRA Certification (SRA Form B-2), original copy
d) SEC Registration or CDA Registration with Articles of Incorporation/Cooperation & By-Laws, certified photocopy HaIESC
e) Taxpayer's Identification Card or duly stamped BIR TIN Form, certified photocopy
f) Proof of payment of SRA applicable fees — Official Receipt or Deposit Slip, certified photocopy
B.2 Certification of existing sugarcane plantations for plant site/land conversion purposes only:
• Proof of ownership
• Comprehensive Land Use Plan/Zoning Ordinance approved by the Sangguniang Bayan/Panlalawigan
C. Applicable Fees
To be paid directly to the SRA Treasury Division or deposited to the SRA account with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) specific for bioethanol collections:
C.1 SRA Certification of Sugarcane Plantations as Feedstock Production Areas
a. Filing Fee — to cover cost of office supplies and communication expenses; to be paid upon submission of letter requesting certification:
• P1,000.00 — regardless of farm size
b. Inspection Fee — to cover transportation cost and per diem (SRA MDO & driver) and other administrative costs incurred during validation of areas and issuance of certification:
1. As a precondition to DOE Accreditation prior to the Construction of bioethanol production facilities (First application)
• For a total area equal to or less than 1,000 hectares = P15,000.00
• For every additional 500 hectares or less = P2,000.00
2. Subsequent applications for certification of additional areas cEAaIS
• For a total area of 500 hectares or less = P5,000.00
• For every additional 100 hectares or less = P500.00
C.2 SRA Certification of Existing Sugarcane Plantations as Plant Site
a. Existing Filing Fee for Land Conversion applications:
• P1,000.00 — for areas < 5 hectares
• P2,000.00 — for areas > 5 hectares
b. Existing Inspection Fee for Land Conversion purposes:
• P10,000.00 — for areas < 5 hectares
• P15,000.00 — for areas > 5 hectares
D. PROCESS FLOW — Certification of Existing Sugarcane Plantations as Feedstock Production and Plant Site Areas for Bioethanol Production
II. Registration of Bioethanol Producers/Manufacturers
1. Bioethanol Manufacturers/Producers shall:
• Register with SRA prior to commercial operation;
• Renew registration every crop year.
2. Criteria for the Issuance of Registration Certificates:
• All bioethanol fuel producers using sugarcane, sugar, sugar syrups, molasses and other products from sugarcane and sugar as feedstocks for bioethanol fuel manufacture;
• Producers of bioethanol, other than bioethanol fuel, using sugarcane, sugar, sugar syrups and other products from sugarcane and sugar, except molasses, shall be required to register with SRA. AacSTE
• Compliance to monthly submission of the SRA prescribed E-Cane Reports (SRA Forms B-4 to B-7), as applicable;
• Compliance to SRA policies, rules and regulations on bioethanol production;
• Payment of monitoring fee and other SRA liens, as applicable;
• Secured SRA Certification on the utilization of existing sugarcane plantations for bioethanol production, as applicable.
3. Requirements
a) Letter requesting registration, original copy
b) Filled-up Application Form (SRA Form 8-3), original copy
c) Compliance to monthly submission of SRA Prescribed Matrix for E-Cane Report, for renewal only
d) Mayor's Permit, certified photocopy
e) SEC Registration or CDA Registration with Articles of Incorporation/Cooperation & By-Laws, certified photocopy
g) Taxpayer's Identification Card or duly stamped BIR TIN Form, certified photocopy
n g) Proof of payment of SRA applicable fees — Official Receipt or Deposit Slip, certified photocopy
4. Applicable Fees
• Registration fee is P2,000 (new registrants and renewal)
• No filing fee or inspection fee shall be collected.
5. PROCESS FLOW — Registration of Bioethanol Manufacturer/Producer
III. Registration of Bioethanol Feedstock Traders/Brokers
Existing SRA policies and guidelines on the registration of sugar, molasses and muscovado traders shall apply to the registration of bioethanol feedstock traders/brokers.
IV. Collection of Monitoring Fee and Bioethanol Research, Development & Extension (BRDE) Lien
• All bioethanol producers using sugarcane, sugar, sugar syrups and other products from sugarcane and sugar, except molasses, as feedstocks for bioethanol manufacture shall pay to SRA a monitoring fee of five (5) centavos and a BRDE lien of ten (10) centavos per liter of bioethanol produced and sold;
• No monitoring fee and BRDE lien shall be collected from bioethanol producers using molasses as feedstock.
• The monitoring fee and BRDE lien may be paid to SRA in the following manner:
• Collected by the SRA SRO in the form of a check; DaEcTC
• Remitted directly to the SRA Treasury Division, in the form of cash or check; or
• Deposited in the SRA's account at the Land Bank of the Philippines.
• The monitoring fees collected by SRA shall be part of its corporate fund and the BRDE lien shall be deposited in a separate account to fund R, D & E projects of the bioethanol industry.
• Utilization of the BRDE fund shall be managed by the Bioethanol Consultative Board created by Sugar Order No. 3, series of 2007-2008 and shall be governed by existing COA rules and regulations.
V. Assignment of an SRA Regulation Officer (SRO) in all bioethanol production facility
• SRA shall assign one SRO in every bioethanol production facility in the country using sugarcane, sugar, sugar syrups and other products from sugarcane and sugar, except molasses, as feedstocks for bioethanol manufacture. The SRO shall monitor bioethanol production, collect the necessary fees and liens and provide other regulatory, advisory and facilitation services.
• No SRO shall be assigned in bioethanol production facilities using molasses as feedstock.
VI. Importation of Feedstocks for Bioethanol Production
Existing SRA policies and guidelines on the importation of sugar, molasses and other products from sugarcane and sugar shall apply to the importation of bioethanol feedstocks.
VII. Creation of the SRA Bioethanol Project Development Group (PDG) and Bioethanol Inspection and Monitoring Group (IMG)
In the absence of an organic unit for bioethanol within SRA, the following core groups are created to perform specific duties and responsibilities relative to bioethanol:
1. Bioethanol Project Development Group (BPDG) — The Planning & Policy Department (as the unit in charged of special projects, coordination, reporting and data management), shall:
• Receive and facilitate the processing of documents submitted to the SRA by the Proponents or Bioethanol Investors; ScEaAD
• Assist proponents in completing SRA-specific requirements;
• Endorse to the Bioethanol Inspection and Monitoring Group (BIMG) all pending applications for certification, including pertinent documents, for the conduct of area inspection and assessment;
• Maintain an up-to-date database consisting of, but not limited to, bioethanol production statistics, farm statistics, feedstock production and delivery statistics and other bioethanol-related information:
• Submit necessary reports, through the Administrator, to the National Biofuels Board (NBB);
• Act as SRA Coordinator with the NBB Technical Secretariat/NBB One-Stop-Shop.
2. Bioethanol Inspection and Monitoring Group (BIMG) — The R, D & E Department (as the unit in charged of technical aspects of the agricultural & industrial sectors of the sugarcane industry), shall:
• Upon receipt of applications endorsed by the BPDG, conduct inspection and assessment of existing sugarcane growing areas proposed for bioethanol production;
• Submit to the Sugar Board, through the BPDG, inspection/assessment reports and corresponding recommendations on applications for certification of sugarcane areas proposed for bioethanol production;
• Submit to the Bioethanol PDG, in the prescribed forms, monthly monitoring reports on sugarcane feedstock utilization and other farm statistics.
VIII. Fines and Penalties
Any violation to SRA policies and guidelines governing the production of bioethanol shall be subject to a fine of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) and revocation of registration certificates.
IX. Effectivity
This circular takes effect immediately. cIaHDA
(SGD.) RAFAEL L. COSCOLLUELAAdministrator
ATTACHMENT
SRA Form B-1
SRA PRESCRIBED APPLICATION FORMSRA Certification of Existing Sugarcane Plantations as Feedstock Production and Plant
Site Areas for Bioethanol ProductionCY _____________________
Business Name: __________________________________________
Plant Site Location: __________________________________________
Business Address: __________________________________________
Contact Numbers:
Plant Site: __________________________________________
Business Office in Metro Manila: _____________________________
Date Established: ______________________________________________
Date to Start Commercial Operation: ______________________________
Estimated Number of Factory Workers: ____________________________
Feedstock/s: __________________________________________________
Rated Capacity:
Tons Cane per day (TCD): ___________________________________
Tons Molasses per day (TMD): ________________________________
Liters Ethanol per day (LED): ________________________________
Estimated Operatings Days Per Year: _______________________________
Estimated Cogeneration Capacity, MW (if applicable): _________________
Projected Annual Bioethanol Production: ____________________________
Proprietor/s: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
Estimated Annual Area Requirement (Hectares):
From Existing Sugarcane Plantations: __________________________
From Expansion Areas: _____________________________________
Total Area Requested for Certification (Hectares): ____________________
Total No. of Landowners: ________________ Total No. of Farms: _______
Sugar Milling Districts Covered: __________________________________
Prepared by: ______________________________ Date Prepared: __________
Name & Signature of Proponent's Authorized Representative
Contact Numbers/Cellphone No.: ________________________________
SRA Form B-2
SRA PRESCRIBED MATRIX
SUGARCANE PLANTATION AREAS FOR BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION
Business Name | : | __________________________________ | ||||
Business Address | : | __________________________________ | ||||
Plant Site Location | : | __________________________________ | ||||
Sugar Milling District | : | __________________________________ | ||||
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Farm Locations
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Area per
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Production (CY___)
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Productivity
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Farm
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MT sugar
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MT
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LKG/Ha.
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(Hectares)
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Sugarcane
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Prepared by: | ______________________________ | Date Prepared: _____________ | ||||
Name & Signature of Proponent's
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Authorized Representative
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--------- (Items below are to be filled up by the SRA MDO/Inspector) -------
Recommendations and Findings:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
------------- Use additional sheets if necessary -------------
Inspected & Validated by: __________________________ Date Inspected: ____________ Name & Signature of SRA MDO
NOTE: Please sign all pages containing list of areas inspected — these will be attached to the SRA Certification
SRA Form B-3
SRA PRESCRIBED APPLICATION FORM
Business Name: __________________________________________
Plant Site Location: __________________________________________
Business Address: __________________________________________
Contact Numbers:
Plant Site: __________________________________________
Business Office in Metro Manila: _____________________________
Date Established: ____________________________________________
Date to Start Commercial Operation: ______________________________
Estimated Number of Factory Workers: ____________________________
Feedstock/s: __________________________________________________
Rated Capacity:
Tons Cane per day (TCD): ___________________________________
Tons Molasses per day (TMD): ________________________________
Liters Ethanol per day (LED): ________________________________
Estimated No. of Operatings Days Per Year: __________________________
Estimated Cogeneration Capacity, MW (if applicable): __________________
Projected Annual Bioethanol Production: _____________________________
Proprietor/s: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________
Plant/Operations Manager: _______________________________________
Estimated Annual Area Requirement, if applicable (Hectares):
From Existing Sugarcane Plantations: __________________________
From Expansion Areas: _____________________________________
Total Estimated Feedstock Production Are (Hectares): _________________
Estimated Annual Molasses Requirements (MT): ______________________
Prepared by: ______________________________ Date Prepared: __________
Name & Signature of Proponent's
Authorized Representative
Contact Numbers/Cellphone No.: ________________________________
SRA Form B-4
MONTHLY "E-CANE" REPORT
Business Name: _______________________________________________________ | ||||||||
Plant Site Address: ____________________________________________________ | ||||||||
Business Address: _____________________________________________________ | ||||||||
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Brix
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Price
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Municipality)
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Prepared by: | _________________________________ | Date Prepared: ______________ | ||||||
Name & Signature of Distillery
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Representative
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Attested by: | _________________________________ | Date: _______________ | ||||||
Name & Signature of SRA Representative/ | ||||||||
SRA Bioethanol Regulation Officer | ||||||||
NOTE: | All pages must bear the initial or signature of the distillery & SRA representatives | |||||||
All Sugar/Molasses/Sugar Syrup Traders must be registered with SRA |
SRA Form B-5
MONTHLY "E-CANE" REPORT
Business Name: __________________________________________________ | |||||||
Plant Site Address: _______________________________________________ | |||||||
Business Address: ________________________________________________ | |||||||
Date
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Tons
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Type of
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% Total
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Price
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Supplier/
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Manufacturer/
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Molasses
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Sugar
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per Ton
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specify
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manufacturer;
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otherwise,
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indicate country
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of origin)
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Prepared by: | _________________________________ | Date Prepared: ______________ | |||||
Name & Signature of Distillery | |||||||
Representative | |||||||
Attested by: | _________________________________ | Date: _______________ | |||||
Name & Signature of SRA Representative/ | |||||||
SRA Bioethanol Regulation Officer | |||||||
NOTE: | All pages must bear the initial or signature of the distillery & SRA representatives | ||||||
All Sugar/Molasses/Sugar Syrup Traders must be registered with SRA |
SRA Form B-6
MONTHLY "E-CANE" REPORT
Business Name: __________________________________________________ | ||||||
Plant Site Address: _______________________________________________ | ||||||
Business Address: ________________________________________________ | ||||||
Date
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Tons
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% Total
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Price per
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Manufacturer/
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Sugar
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Sugar
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Ton Sugar
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Trader
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Source
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in Syrup
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Syrup
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(if local, pls.
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(TSS)
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(P/TSS)
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specify
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manufacturer;
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otherwise,
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indicate country
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of origin)
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Prepared by: | _________________________________ | Date Prepared: ______________ | ||||
Name & Signature of Distillery
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Representative
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Attested by: | _________________________________ | Date: _______________ | ||||
Name & Signature of SRA Representative/ | ||||||
SRA Bioethanol Regulation Officer | ||||||
NOTE: | All pages must bear the initial or signature of the distillery & SRA representatives | |||||
All Sugar/Molasses/Sugar Syrup Traders must be registered with SRA |
SRA Form B-7
MONTHLY "E-CANE" REPORT
Business Name: __________________________________________________ | |||||
Plant Site Address: _______________________________________________ | |||||
Business Address: ________________________________________________ | |||||
Date
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Tons Sugar
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Price per Ton
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Supplier/Trader
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Manufacturer/Source
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(TS)
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Sugar Syrup
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(if local, pls. specify
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manufacturer; otherwise,
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indicate country of origin)
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Prepared by: | _________________________________ | Date Prepared: ______________ | |||
Name & Signature of Distillery
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Representative
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Attested by: | _________________________________ | Date Signed: _______________ | |||
Name & Signature of SRA Representative/ | |||||
SRA Bioethanol Regulation Officer | |||||
NOTE: | All pages must bear the initial or signature of the distillery & SRA representatives | ||||
All Sugar/Molasses/Sugar Syrup Traders must be registered with SRA |
n Note from the Publisher: Copied obtained from the original copy of Sugar Regulatory Administration.