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The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines signed agreements with Island Skies Alliance and Global Green Growth Institute to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel and strengthen the country’s aviation decarbonization efforts
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ISA will help develop a national SAF ecosystem through stakeholder coordination, pilot projects, capacity-building programs, carbon market initiatives and private sector engagement
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GGGI will focus on technical assistance, policy development, capacity-building and access to international expertise
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CAAP said the agreements align with global aviation climate goals and support government directives in advancing a sustainable transportation system
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) signed agreements with Island Skies Alliance (ISA) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and strengthen the country’s aviation decarbonization efforts.
The separate memorandums of understanding were signed on June 9 by CAAP deputy director general for operations Rozzano Briguez, GGGI executive director Sang-Hyu Kim, and ISA president Amrendra Kumar, CAAP announced.
ISA will help CAAP develop a national SAF ecosystem through stakeholder coordination, pilot projects, capacity-building programs, carbon market initiatives and private sector engagement.
GGGI, meanwhile, will focus on technical assistance, policy development, capacity-building and access to international expertise to support SAF development and broader aviation sustainability initiatives.
CAAP noted that SAF is widely recognized as one of the most viable solutions for reducing aviation emissions, while also offering potential benefits in energy security, investment opportunities and green job creation. It has the potential to cut emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel, according to industry experts.
“More than a technological shift, SAF is an opportunity to strengthen energy security, attract investment, create green jobs, and position the Philippines in the low-carbon aviation economy,” Briguez said.
CAAP said the agreements align with global aviation climate goals under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), and support the government’s push for a sustainable transportation system.
READ: 22 nations back ICAO call to action on aviation safety, sustainability goals
ISA is a collaborative platform to help accelerate the development of the SAF ecosystem in the Philippines while facilitating the accessibility of eligible carbon credits from Philippine nature-based solutions. GGGI, meanwhile, is an intergovernmental organization based in Seoul, South Korea and is dedicated to promoting green growth, which integrates economic progress with environmental sustainability.
Last March, CAAP convened government and industry stakeholders in a workshop for the country’s SAF policy framework, which targets to cut aviation carbon emissions by up to 80% and position the country’s agricultural waste as a homegrown feedstock advantage in the global effort toward cleaner skies.
The workshop addressed the full range of prerequisites for a viable domestic SAF ecosystem: feedstock availability, production technology, capacity-building, regulatory support, airline participation, and the investment landscape required to scale nationwide adoption.
On the supply side, CAAP emphasized a natural advantage the Philippines has over many of its regional peers. The country’s agricultural sector, especially rice and coconut production, produces large amounts of organic waste that can be turned into aviation fuel.
READ: PH eyes lead in sustainable aviation fuel production, use
According to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) SAF 2050 Outlook report released early this year, all the ASEAN countries examined could potentially have sufficient capacity to position themselves as net SAF exporters. Viet Nam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand have the most abundant feedstock to support SAF production.
READ: ASEAN holds big potential as producer, user of sustainable aviation fuel
