Autogas Lobbying Intervention in the Philippines

David Tyler holds talks in Philippines addressing the need to switch from diesel to Autogas in order to counter the high levels of street polution in the nation's capital. 

In 2011 the WLPGA produced an Autogas Lobby Plan to help members promote the use of Autogas as a clean alternative transportation fuel to gasoline and diesel. The 2012 WLPGA action plan includes the implementation of this Lobby Plan in two countries through intervention. One of those countries selected was the Philippines. In June 2012, Director of the WLPGA David Tyler, together with the Philippines LP Gas Association, held a series of meetings with key stakeholders in Manila to promote the use of Autogas in the country. These meetings included discussions with government, at Under Secretary level, to debate the inclusion of Autogas in the Philippines transportation fuels energy programme.
In particular the discussions focused on the use of diesel fuel which is currently being used in the popular Jeepney’s in Metro Manila. These vehicles are well recognised around the world as the iconic, colourful people carriers. Unfortunately they are also responsible for much of the street air pollution, especially particulate matter, generated from diesel emissions on the streets of the capital. The discussions included the recent announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) stating that diesel emissions are now confirmed as carcinogenic to humans.
The result of this intervention was a commitment from the government to explore ways to convert the diesel engines in the Jeepneys to Autogas across Metro Manila. A working group is being established to determine the best course of action for this fuel switch.
During the week David Tyler also held separate discussions with the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) who will be holding their Better Air Quality (BAQ) conference in Hong Kong (www.baq2012.org) during the same week as the WLPGA Asia Autogas Summit.
For more information of the Autogas event, which is being held in the Sheraton Hotel in Kowloon on 3rd December 2012, and opportunities to co-sponsor it, please contact David on dtyler@worldlpgas.com.