Friday, August 19, 2005
Arroyo orders fuel rationing for gov't cars
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Thursday ordered the rationing of gasoline for all government vehicles, among several energy conservation measures that would be implemented by her administration.
Arroyo, in her speech at the National Exporters' Congress in Makati City, also directed government agencies, government corporations and state universities and colleges to:
* Make the 10 percent mandatory savings on electricity and fuel cost as "only the acceptable floor" for a much greater conservation target;
* Stop using gas-guzzling vehicles. She said she will look for another back-up car because her aide told her that her current back-up car is a gas-guzzler;
* Accelerate the shift of government fuel to use bio-diesel, ethanol, or compressed natural gas (CNG); and
* Open up the investment arena for geothermal energy as soon as possible.
Arroyo asked business leaders regarding the suggestion to return all government offices, except frontline services, to the four-day workweek, without extending work hours on the remaining regular workday.
The remark was greeted by some clapping and louder murmurs of protest from the businessmen. "Is that the response to my consultation?" Arroyo asked.
The President said government saved money during the summer because of the four-day workweek but it received criticisms about the inconvenience caused by the scheme.
"But of course the price of oil then was not as high as it is now. So I stand to examine now whether what we saved will already be worth the inconvenience and I ask you, the private sector, to be the one to advise us on that," she said.
She also asked the business sector to do their share by providing transportation subsidies to workers and eliminating air-conditioning and unnecessary energy usage until prices come back down.
She urged the people to increase conservation and decrease the use of unnecessary travel and energy use.
She asked Congress to pass new energy conservation laws to decrease the country's reliance on oil and increase self-reliance on ethanol, bio-diesel, solar, wind and natural gas.
She lashed at her critics whom she said seem to think that the answer to everything is to raise their voice, shake their fist, do nothing, and engage in just politics and rhetoric. "If we could harness all their hot air, we would have no energy problem at all," she said.
Arroyo said "forceful and drastic steps" may be needed to prevent a worst-case scenario, even as she called for "full public understanding and cooperation." "We have shown the best of national solidarity in past crises and there is no reason why we cannot calmly, collectively and successfully deal with this one," she said.
She said all sectors and levels of society must share the burden, "especially the rich who can take it most - while we must work through all ample means to protect the poor." (JMR/Sunnex)
(August 19, 2005 issue)
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