Friday, October 13, 2006 Official says use of bio-diesel in Baguio minimal
ALTHOUGH the use of bio-diesel is slowly gaining popularity, its usage by public utility vehicles (PUVs) in Baguio could hardly be felt, said an environment official on Thursday.
Rolando Reyes, head of the Environment Management Bureau (EMP) Pollution Control Division in Cordillera, said the use of pre-blended fuel could not yet be felt at this time.
"The one percent blend could not be felt so much yet," declared Reyes, even as he said that the city's overall ambient air quality is still within the acceptable levels.
Reyes, who is also the head of the infrastructure committee of the Baguio Clean Cities Coalition (BCCC), said the 158 microgram per normal cubic meter of total suspended particles at the central business district (CBD) as of September was the best recorded so far since 1997.
He added that to boost the use of bio-diesel especially among PUVs, the EMB already submitted its position paper to the Council of Clean Cities, which states that once the bill mandating the use of renewable energy passes Congress, the BCCC advocacy should be included in the Senate version of the bill.
He explained that the inclusion of the coalition in the Senate version would help in the formulation of a common action plan for the implementation of programs for the use of bio-diesel.
The government is targeting an 80 percent use of bio-diesel in the transportation sector by 2010.
Meanwhile, the local chapter of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) said there should be no increase in the price of bio-diesel even when fuel price increases in the world market.
Fejodap Baguio-Benguet president Perfecto Itliong Jr. said a one to five percent additive does not have an effect in the overall price of the fuel per liter.
Reyes and Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia, chairman of the City Council committee on environment, meantime urged the 128 barangays to form a cooperative that would sell bio-diesel.
Balajadia said that instead of big oil players selling this product, barangays could participate and pioneer in the sale of the additives. He said coconut farmers and the general population stand to benefit from this plan. (RO)
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