Let's work faster to promote coco diesel.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Neal H. Cruz

I RECEIVED three letters and a phone call in reaction to the Aug. 9 column ("Coco diesel as renewable source of fuel"). The caller wanted to know where he could buy coco diesel. I didn't know where, so I referred him to the Philippine Coconut Authority in Quezon City.

Of the three letters, two were from the PCA and one from the Department of Energy. Energy Secretary Vincent Perez expressed gratitude to this column for "advocating the use of Coco-Biodiesel to lessen dependence on imported crude oil," and then enumerated what the DOE was doing to "lay the groundwork" for the nationwide use of coco diesel.

The PCA letters were written by Thelma M.Tolentino, manager of the Public Relations and Information Office, and Lornito L. Orillaneda, manager for Region XI based in Davao City. I don't know which is the official stand and who is the official spokesperson of the PCA because the two letters are contradictory. While Tolentino was thankful, Orillaneda was angry.

"We in the PCA are heartened to find an ally in your person," wrote Tolentino. "Your article must have caught the attention of our concerned national policymakers."

But Orillaneda found me an enemy, and nitpicked on bits and pieces of the column to criticize instead of trying to understand what the whole column meant.