Group questions LTFRB push for LPG-run jeeps

An organization of jeepney drivers and operators questioned yesterday the sudden interest of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in promoting the conversion of jeepneys into vehicles run by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Efren de Luna, president of the Philippine Confederation of Drivers’ Organizations-Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (PCDO-ACTO), said they want the LTFRB to first lay down the concrete figures for the issuance of financial assistance to jeepney operators to convert their units to LPG or liquefied petroleum gas.

According to De Luna, they were particularly surprised by the sudden increase in the average cost cited by the LTFRB of installing LPG conversion kits from P50,000 to P85,000 after President Arroyo made P2 billion available for the conversion project.

“We are surprised over this sudden promotion for jeepney operators to convert their units to run on LPG,” De Luna told The STAR.

“We also want the LTFRB to present us their guidelines and their study on the costs for our conversion of our units to LPG because maybe we could find ways to do it cheaper and avoid unnecessary loans,” he added.

De Luna was referring to the Special Vehicle Pollution Control Fund made available by President Arroyo to the Department of Transportation and Communications to pursue environmentally-sustainable transportation projects. He said the P2 billion fund was taken from the motor vehicle user’s charge.

De Luna stressed that they wanted the LTFRB to first look into the safety and cost-efficiency of converting jeepneys to LPG-fuelled vehicles, citing unverified reports of exposure to LPG used to fuel vehicles.

 “They should discuss it with us if it’s safe. And also if it’s financially beneficial for jeepney drivers and operators,” he said.