The Bayawan City government is eyeing biofuel equipment in the wake of the rising cost of oil in the world market. Mayor German Saraña recently announced that the city's vehicles that previously ran on diesel will use 50 percent biodiesel.

City information officer Eli Manlangit said a lecture and demonstration on biodiesel came about after a meeting between Saraña and the internationally-renowned Biofuels researcher and developer Dr. Rico Cruz.

In his discussion during the lecture and demonstration, Cruz showed how to "concoct" biofuel from coconut crude oil, ethanol and a catalyst. Cruz said that used cooking oil and oil derived from jatropha curcas or tuba-tuba or any other oil-producing plant can be used as substitute for coconut crude oil.

Saraña urged his constituents and those of the neighboring municipalities to use biofuel. Also present at the lecture and demonstration were officials of the towns of Sta. Catalina and Siaton, businessmen, and students and professors of Negros Oriental State University-Bayawan City-Sta. Catalina campus.*RG

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