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Sunday, November 11, 2007
House measure rushed to force CNG use
MANILA -- As oil price move beyond the $95 mark, Speaker Jose de Venecia and senior House leaders rushed legislation over the weekend to compel use of indigenous compressed natural gas (CNG) for buses and trucks to reduce passenger and cargo fares and avoid polluting carbon dioxide emissions.
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De Venecia called a meeting last week with Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Development Bank of the Philippines president Rey David and former energy secretary Vince Perez to finalize the legislation co-authored by House Energy committee chairman Mikey Macapagal-Arroyo and Senior Lakas CMD leader, Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita.
The measure is being finalized with the help of the technical task force headed by deputy Secretary Genera; R.V. Vicerra of the House congressional planning and budget department, and experts from the energy department.
"At P14 per liter, the use of CNG would significantly reduce the cost of fuel since the pump price of diesel is P34 per liter," the Speaker said.
"We are introducing immediately national impact legislation to address the rampaging petrol price increases and to reduce polluting carbon dioxide emissions," de Venecia said.
De Venecia and Perez said the CNG-powered buses and trucks are available from the US, Canada, India, and China.
They said there might not even be a need for legislative compulsion because the P34-P14 price differential between diesel and CNG is very practical and attractive, De Venecia and Perez said.
"This will readily offset the cost of buying new CNG-powered buses or converting existing ones," de Venecia said.
The Speaker and David said the DBP and major international financial houses are prepared to finance large-scale deployment of CNG-powered buses in Metro Manila and Luzon.
"We will find ways and means to deliver the CNG from the Malampaya-Palawan oil and gas fields to the Visayas and Mindanao to eventually cover the entire country," de Venecia said.
A few dozen CNG-powered buses were brought from China last year but CNG filling stations were established only this year by Shell, a major owner and operator of the Malampaya-Palawan gas fields. (PNA)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (November 11, 2007 issue)
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