DENR requires cleaner fuel by July

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a directive requiring the use of cleaner fuel by July 1.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the new emission requirement would comply with Euro 4 fuel standards instead of the current Euro 2.

According to Euro 4 standards, the emission of sulfur content both for diesel and gasoline should measure only 50 parts per million instead of the 500 ppm for Euro 2.

Benzene in gasoline, meanwhile, would measure only one percent by volume compared to five percent for Euro 2 fuel.

For aromatics, Euro 4 fuel would contain only 35 percent by volume, as opposed to Euro 2 fuel which prescribes no limit.

“The planned shift to Euro 4 was made possible through the support of oil players, car manufacturers and transport groups, who are doing their fair share to curb air pollution and reduce its impacts,” Paje said in a news conference.

“Low sulfur fuels will lead to reduced emissions of particulate matter. This particulate matter, along with other pollutants, can penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can worsen existing respiratory and heart diseases,” he explained.

He clarified that Euro 4 fuel could still be loaded in old vehicles.

DENR Administrative Order No. 2015-14 issued by Paje would provide more stringent emission standards for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon, oxides of nitrogen, and particulate matter to be complied with by new passenger and light- and heavy-duty vehicles.

For instance, the order would set an average CO emission limit of two grams per kilometer (g/km) for gasoline-fed passenger and light-duty vehicles instead of one g/km.

“It also provides that all new vehicles to be used or introduced into the Philippine market by January 2016 shall be equipped with Euro 4 engine and compliant with Euro 4 emission standards,” Paje said.

The DENR-Environmental Management Bureau shall only issue Certificates of Conformity (COC) to Euro 4 vehicles starting January 2016.

The COC is issued to new vehicles that comply with emission standards prescribed by the DENR. It is a requirement for the initial registration of vehicles with the Land Transportation Office.

Paje said the Department of Energy is enjoined to ensure the availability of Euro 4 fuels for all vehicles.

He noted that the implementation of vehicle emission limits is consistent with Republic Act 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.

The DENR chief also noted, “All local government units in Metro Manila now have air quality monitoring stations so it will be easy to check the level of air pollution in these municipalities.”

Paje said that if all vehicles would use Euro 4 fuel, the quality of air in Metro Manila would greatly improve.