ABS-CBNnews. The Philippine’s Department of Transportation and Communications is prioritizing natural gas vehicles when it issues transportation franchises for bus operation. (Earlier post on Manila’s move to CNG and the Cummins Westport engines in the buses here.)

“We will issue as many franchises for as long as the buses are CNG-operated. Initially, there will be 200 units that will arrive here early next year. After the pilot program, the number of CNG buses arriving in the country is estimated to reach 1,500,” [Transportation Undersecretary Arturo] Valdez said.

The government has negotiated a 7-year contract with its CNG supplier (the Malampaya natural-gas consortium) that will result in a CNG price to bus operators that is about 50% lower than current diesel prices.

Valdez said the move to allow the operation of CNG buses will encourage other transport firms to follow suit, thereby displacing the 15-plus-year-old buses that currently service the metropolis.

“Market forces will be the one to dictate. There is no phaseout of existing old buses. We are just pushing for the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel for public transport,” Valdez stressed.