As fuel prices spike
ANGARA URGES GOV'T TO FAST TRACK ALTERNATIVES

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), said that the government should seriously develop fuel and transport alternatives as the Department of Energy (DOE) advised motorists to conserve fuel as oil prices are expected to increase again this week.

"We're seeing prices that are close to the 2008 levels. What we can do now is to conserve our fuel consumption," said Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug, Jr.

This is the 12th price increase in fuel prices since the beginning of the year, said Angara, who went on to say that COMSTE has been pushing for government to invest heavily into the development of a local electric and hybrid vehicle industry.

COMSTE is partnered with the Electric Vehicle Alliance of the Philippines (EVAP), which met with the Clean

Air Initiative Asia (CAI-Asia) and various government agencies and industry players to lay out plans for developing the e vehicle industry, including petitioning the ADB to source the design and manufacture of e trikes to local suppliers and manufacturers.

Angara said that innovative Green transport systems such as electric tricycles, hybrid jeepneys, buses and electric bicycles have the potential to lessen pollution caused by conventional transportation and the dependency on fossil fuels.

"We import roughly 96% of our petroleum, the majority of which is consumed by the growing transport sector. This same sector accounts for the biggest share of the energy use, nearing 40%," said Angara, who Chairs COMSTE.

Angara also noted the launch of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded electric tricycle project, saying that this is necessary step towards ending oil dependency and fighting pollution.

The ADB is funding the e trike project in line with the governments National Electric Vehicle Strategy, which aims to replace conventional modes of transport with more environmentally friendly options.