MANILA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Philippine bicameral conference committee on energy approved early Thursday morning a bill that makes the use of biofuels mandatory, Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.said.

    "This is the most exciting piece of legislation for this Congress because we'll be hitting two birds with one stone, cutting our umbilical cord of dependence on fossil fuel from the Middle East and at the same time cleaning the air that we breathe in this country," said Pimentel, who was assigned to chair the committee.

    The bill, certified urgent by the administration, provides that "at least 5 percent bioethanol shall comprise the total volume of gasoline fuel actually sold and distributed in the country" and "a minimum of 1 percent biodiesel by volume shall be blended into all diesel engine fuels sold in the country."

    Pimentel said the approved bill merely needs ratification by both chambers of Congress before being sent to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for signing into law.