Gov't rushes conversion of vehicle engines to alternative fuels
The shift or conversion of motor vehicle engines from fossil fuel-run to alternative gas-run engines will be undertaken soon.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that the activity is in accordance with the implementation of the Bio-Fuels Act.
The Malacanang press report disclosed that President Arroyo ordered the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology to oversee the shift or conversion of motor vehicle engines into alternative fuel run engine.
During the 21st anniversary celebration of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, President Arroyo assured the transport groups that the national government would do its best to meet its target of 10,000 units of passenger jeeps whose engines will be LPG powered in the soonest possible time.
President Arroyo explained that under the modernization program for public land transport industry, the fund for the conversion of diesel to LPG engine will be sourced out from the P1 billion Special Vehicle Pollution Control Fund of the DOTC.
Under the program, the government will initially pay the P70,600 amount of conversion kit for the passenger jeep. In return, the driver/operator of the vehicle will pay the government through installment basis or P80 a day until such time they completed its payment with zero interest.
The President urged the driver/operators of the passenger jeep to take the opportunity and start visiting any nearest Development Bank of the Philippines and Philippine Postal Bank branches and file a loan for the conversion of their diesel engine jeep into LPG.
The President also ordered Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to convert all government vehicles from oil to LPG-run engines.
The fund for the conversion of diesel to LPG program, Student Assistance Fund for Education for a Strong Republic (SAFE4SR), and the ongoing P500 power subsidy for the families who are consuming below 100 kilowatt hour monthly is the fruit extracted from the Value Added Tax or VAT, the Malacanang press report disclosed. (PIA/T. Villavert)