Tuesday, 12 April 2011 11:00
Angara said that while oil companies announced another steep P1.50 increase in pump prices for diesel and gasoline, the government could do better than give out subsidies by investing in research on alternative and renewable energy sources.
He said that since January the price of diesel has gone up by over P8 per liter and gasoline up by over P6. The government fuel subsidy program is being studied to include farmers and fisherfolk.
Angara, chair of the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), said that the government should have the foresight to invest time and money into the development of alternatives and renewable energy (RE) sources, which would end the cycle of constant adjustments due to oil dependency.
Angara said that the country is lagging behind in research and development (R&D) into biofuels and hybrid and electric vehicles. He added that the government needs to wake up and act, or else leave the country vulnerable to fluctuating oil process.
The Green Transport initiative and Electric Vehicle program, was conceptualized by COMSTE under the Renewable Energy Research and Development Institute (RERDI) and will be implemented in cooperation with the DOST and the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP). The project will promote the development of new technology that can produce more efficient, low cost batteries and new electric vehicle design initiatives.
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 create new jobs and industries.
The COMSTE model for Green Transport includes the use of renewable energy sources such as biofuels, like algae, which will in turn charge the batteries of electric and hybrid vehicles, creating a sustainable green transportation system.
source: www.senate.gov.ph
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
