LTFRB suggests use of alternative fuels

As the rising cost of oil continues to beleaguer the country’s transportation industry, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has decided to help promote the use of alternative renewable and sustainable fuel.

LTFRB executive director said this matter was discussed in the recent two-day LTFRB Regional Manager’s Conference in Bohol.

He said that besides talking about the drivers’ petition for fare hike and the proposed P2 fuel subsidy, the agency’s managers tried to look for ways to help the drivers out of the bind of rising prices of oil and petroleum products.

The latest report said the oil price in the world market already reached US$125 per barrel, double than that of the previous year, and this triggered an increase also in the prices of goods and commodities.

The LTFRB said that the way to address the fuel cost problem while at the same time modernize the public transport system is to go for alternative fuels.

Mahipus said that among these are liquefied petroleum gas and compressed natural gas, the use of which is already popular in Metro Manila. He said these fuels are cheaper, at about P18 per liter, compared to the P40 per liter cost of oil products today.

Even the Department of Energy had confirmed that vehicles became environment-friendly because either of the two alternative fuels produces lower emission of pollutants.

LTFRB also endorsed the conversion of transport vehicles to be 30-percent LPG and 70-percent diesel user, Mahipus said adding that this combination produces low-cost consumption and low–carbon emission. This was already tested last year with great results, he said.

Mahipus said the LTFRB also wants to promote hybrid vehicles because these will come out cheaper because of high savings in consumption bills.

The production of these vehicles however is quite expensive, and this prompted the government to set aside at least P1 billion to fund the research, being conducted by LTFRB and other concerned agencies, for the development of this kind of vehicles, said Mahipus.

These alternative fuels and new breed of vehicles may be the answer to free the Philippines from the bondage of high oil costs, he said.

Mahipus said the Philippines however is still importing raw materials for these alternative fuels, and there are plans now to invite investors to produce these fuels instead right here in the country.   — Jessica Ann Pareja, UP MassComm intern/RAE