EDITORIAL

Providing public transport through conversion of vehicle engines to LPG

The national government is now being urged by concerned sectors to subsidize conversion of diesel engines into LPG-run machines to help jeep and taxi operators and drivers cope with high oil prices which had adversely affected their operations.

According to Perfecto Itliong Jr., coordinator of the Public Transport Affairs Office in the Cordillera, conversion of diesel engines into LPG-fed machines is very expensive. While admitting that a good number of jeep and taxicab operators are contemplating on converting their diesel engines into LPG-run engines, he said the over P200,000 needed for the change is beyond their financial capability.

For this reason, he said the government should come out with a viable package to assist the operators. At present, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) costs P35 per liter, much lower than the P63 per liter of gasoline and P58 per liter of diesel. In Baguio alone, hundreds of gasoline-fed taxi units have reportedly been converted into LPG-fed vehicles and are earning reasonable income.

He admitted continuous rise in the prices of fuel oil in the world market has greatly prejudiced their operations with the minimal fare increase not sufficient to cover the increased cost of petroleum products.

Taxicabs reportedly use 35 liters of auto gas for a maximum period of 36 hours in Baguio with a full tank of gasoline is consumed in less than 24 hours. Despite the peculiar terrain in the city, LPG users said performance of their vehicles was the same as with the use of regular or high-octane oil products, noting the high combustion rating of auto gas.

The conversion of gasoline-fed vehicles into LPG-run machines costs between P28,000 and P35,000, but the conversion of diesel engines into auto gas costs over P200,000, according to the transport sector.

The mass transport sector is hit hard by the economic crisis, according to operators, so there is need for government to provide assistance, which would enable jeep and taxicab operators to continue serving the commuting public.

Observers have noted a significant decline in the number of jeepneys and taxicabs plying the streets and many operators and drivers have opted to temporarily stop operations. The reason cited was they could no longer making good income as their daily gross collections are eaten up by the high cost of gasoline.

According to operators, the recent fare increase granted by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board is not enough to cover operational expenses of vehicle owners in the Cordillera because of the region’s steep terrain. This, they said, is aggravated by the unabated increase in the prices of vehicle spare parts and maintenance cost.

There maybe merit in the operators’ complaints and request for subsidy, but how about the more marginalized sectors who need the money more in this time of hardship?