Nationwide advocacy forum on the use of alternative fuels to kick-off in Ilocos Norte

BATAC CITY, July 5 (PIA) – The Department of Energy (DOE) in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) is set to kick-off its nationwide multi-sectoral advocacy forum on the use of alternative fuels on July 6.

The forum, which will be held at the Teatro Ilocandia of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) here, aims to create greater awareness and appreciation of the importance of cleaner alternative energy fuels and energy technologies and efficient utilization of energy.

Participants to the whole day event are from local transport groups, local government units and from the academe while speaking before them are energy experts and specialists of the Alternative Fuels and Energy Technology Division (AFETD) of the DOE.

Nelia P. Cepeda of the PIA, also the project information and education campaign (IEC) assistant, said the national advocacy program was realized mainly to aid the DOE-AFETD in its campaign to inform the public on its Alternative Fuels Program namely Natural Gas Vehicle Program for Public Transport (NGVPPT), Auto-LPG Program and E-Trike Project.

The NGVPPT was launched by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to unveil various incentives to promote investment and active participation of the private sector on the development of the natural gas industry in the country.

The natural gas is a naturally occurring fossil fuel found near crude deposits in deep underground packets. It is use for power generation, industrial application and transport.

Also, the E- trike project is a three-wheeled vehicle fueled by electricity (battery) instead of gasoline with the following benefits: no tailpipes emission, less operation noise and vibration and easy driving and low maintenance cost.

Lastly, the energy department’s auto-LPG program aims to diversify the country’s fuel resources, particularly in the transport sector, through the use of LPG as an alternative fuel source while addressing the problem on air pollution due to vehicular emission.

After its commencement in region one, same advocacy campaign on will also roll out in 11 other regions nationwide with the following slated schedule:
•Region 2 (Aparri, Cagayan) in July;
• Region 12 (Mat City, Davao Oriental) in August;
• Region 10 (Camiguin province) in August;
• Region 7 (Dumaguete City) in September;
•Region 8 (Maasin City) in September;
•Region 9 (Pagadian City) in September;
•Region 11 (General Santos/Koronadal/Sultan Kudarat) in October;
•Region 5 (Virac Catanduanes) in October;
•Region 6 (Roxas City) in November ;
•Region 4B (Calapan, Oriental Mindoro) in November; and
•Region 3 (Zambales) in December or January 2017. (Freddie G. Lazaro/PIA- 1 Ilocos Norte)