Govt. auteritiy program in Philippines includes a Prius

Gov’t austerity program starts

Leading by example, President Arroyo has started serving only coffee and tea in her meetings at Malacañang as she launched austerity measures aimed at reducing the massive fiscal deficit.

Faced with an ailing economy, Mrs. Arroyo ordered a ban on the purchase of government cars, strict implementation of penalties for the unofficial use of vehicles and other austerity measures.

The President said the government has embarked on an energy conservation program to trim oil imports by 12 percent and generate foreign exchange savings of as much as $784 million amid high oil prices in the world market.

As a first step, she ordered all government agencies to achieve a mandatory 10 percent reduction in their fuel and electricity consumptions.

The President said it is through "leadership by example" that the government’s energy efficiency and conservation program will successfully be implemented.

Thus, she imposed a moratorium on the purchase of new government vehicles, saying increased buying of cars only increase fuel usage.

To set an example, the DOE chief said he will make use of the vehicle lent to him by the President that runs on "hybrid fuel."

"I think I will take the lead by using a hybrid fuel-run vehicle that the President has lent to me. She has one of the first hybrid fuel-run vehicles, a Toyota Prius," he said, in response to queries if Cabinet officials will heed the President’s call for "leadership by example" by doing away with gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles, including their back-up security detail, to join the car pool and carless day campaign.

Having used the Toyota Prius in recent months, Perez noted it was "very high in fuel efficiency" as measured by its fuel consumption of 23 kilometers per liter.

Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima said he will develop a lower tariff scheme in promoting the use of hybrid fuel.

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Jeff