MANILA — The Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it has completed the distribution of 85 e-vehicles to various government agencies.
“(The last batch), two units each were turned over to the Office of the President (OP) and the PCIEERD (Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development),” Jesus Tamang, DOE Energy Utilization and Management Bureau director, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Thursday. Four units were also delivered to DOE for testing, he added.
Japan’s Non-Project Grant Aid funded the acquisition of these cars, which give off lower carbon emission, Tamang said. “(Energy) Secretary Cusi said the grant will jumpstart the DOE’s call to action to fellow public servants to increase their use or patronize energy efficient technologies, including their official vehicles,” he remarked.
All the e-vehicles distributed shall be used as government vehicles, and are for official use only.
Tamang said the OP and PCIEERRD were selected as recipients upon their agreement to participate in the evaluation program for next generation vehicles. Participating government agencies must also set aside an area for the construction and operation of charging stations for the e-vehicles.
The executive said the DOE will provide PHP200,000 per vehicle for its five-year maintenance program. He clarified, however, that the PHP200,000 budget is for five years, or PHP40,000 per year. Also, this budget will be given only upon completion of documentary requirements, he said.
Meanwhile, 24 hybrid vehicles were earlier issued to other government offices, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Finance, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the National Economic Development Authority, and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Forty-five units were distributed to PNP in Region 8, while eight hybrid cars were given to various agencies in Tacloban “to support the economic and social recovery of communities devastated by typhoon Yolanda,” according to Tamang.
These regional offices were that of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Information Agency, the Department of Transportation-Land Transportation Office and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, he said. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)
