Arroyo to award 'conversion' certificates to transport groups

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will award to five transport groups this Monday certificates for the conversion of their vehicles' engines from diesel to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). A Malacañang statement Saturday said this was part of the government's effort to raise the income of public utility drivers affected by global oil price increases. It said Mrs Arroyo will also lead groundbreaking rites for a proposed grand terminal for PUVs using alternative fuels, hybrid bus run by compressed natural gas (CNG), airport taxi with meter-issuing receipt and public utility jeepney (PUJ) run with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at the One Esplanade at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex in Pasay City. At the vacant lot in front of One Esplanade, she will lower the time capsule to signal the start of the construction of the grand transport terminal. She will then award the certificates for the PUJ Diesel + LPG Conversion Program to five transport groups in Metro Manila. Following the awarding, she will view the hybrid and CNG buses, PUJs with engines already converted into LPG, buses run by LPGs, and taxis run by LPG. Recipients of the certificate for diesel to LPG conversion include Pasang Masda, Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (MJODA), Caloocan Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (CANJODA), Pambansang Kalipunan ng mga Kooperatibang Pangsasakyan (PKKP), and Mega Manila Operators and Drivers Alliance (MMODA). Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Thompson Lantion said the project aims to raise the income of the public transportation drivers and implement the Clean Air Act. Dubbed as "Mga Makabagong Sasakyan Para sa Ligtas na Kalusugan at Kapaligiran Tungo sa Mabilis, Maingat at Maginhawang Paglalakbay," the conversion of the passenger jeepneys from diesel to LPG is part of the government public land transportation modernization program. Under the project, the government will initially shoulder the P70,600 expenses for the conversion of the diesel to LPG engine and will grant it to operators/drivers. The amount aims to partially refinance the acquisition of the conversion kit without any interest. It is payable within two years. Lantion said the project initially covers the PUJs nationwide, and that they expect to convert 10,000 diesel-run jeepney units into LPG powered engines. He said the project will also promote the use of non-renewable resources or alternative fuels that are environment-friendly and economical, promote and protect the environment against air pollution, lessen the demand of diesel, and most importantly is to increase the income of PUJ operators/drivers. The fund to finance the modernization program of public land transport industry will be sourced from the Special Vehicle Pollution Control Fund (SVPCF) of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). - GMANews.TV