Compressed natural gas-run buses launched

The commuting public would soon enjoy lower fares before the yearend as the government successfully tested passenger buses run by compressed natural gas (CNG), which is about 50 percent cheaper than the commonly used diesel.

President Arroyo received in simple ceremonies at Malacañang yesterday two CNG-powered buses at the launching of the government’s natural gas vehicle program for public transport (NGVPPT).

The President and Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, along with members of the diplomatic corps, were among the first passengers of the CNG bus during yesterday’s test run of the vehicle from Malacañang to Rizal Park and back.

Present at the launching ceremony of the CNG bus program were Canadian Ambassador Peter Sutherland, Chinese Ambassador Wu Hongbo and HM Transport CNG Bus president Homer Mercado.

The two buses, powered by the state-of-the-art Cummins Westport engines, would be initially used as shuttle buses for Department of Energy employees.

"We need to reduce our country’s dependence on imported oil and our vulnerability to spiking world oil prices. We are committed to the fast-tracking of the implementation of the NGVPPT with the continued rollout of more CNG buses," Lotilla said in a press briefing after the ceremonial test run.

Lotilla said the Malampaya Power Plant will produce CNG, which can be sold to bus operators at P14.50 per liter.

The CNG-fueled buses are the first two of 200 units arriving in the country. Lotilla said the government hopes to have 2,000 CNG buses plying EDSA, South Superhighway and other major Metro Manila routes by 2010.

The DOE said that by August this year, 35 units will be plying the Manila-Batangas route.

Lotilla said out of the 80 CNG buses owned by HM Transport, 50 are funded by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), while the remaining 30 units will be financed by the private sector.

He said the main supply station for CNG is now under construction in Tabangao, Batangas City. A refueling station will also be constructed near the Mamplasan Exit in Biñan, Laguna.

"In the long term, I think the critical thing here is the infrastructure, which includes a pipeline from Batangas to Manila in order to really have widespread distribution of CNG stations all over Metro Manila," Lotilla said.

Aside from the HM Transport, he said, six other firms were accredited to operate CNG-fueled buses, namely RRCG Transport System Inc. (20 units), KL Transport Inc. (40 units), Pascual Liner Inc. (20 units), Greenstar Express (10 units), Biñan Bus Line (five units) and CNG Vehicles Corp. (10 units).