Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Department of Energy (DOE), in cooperation with Petron Corporation, will soon launch a system to determine the fuel efficiency of cars running on Philippine roads.
On May 27, up to 76 car models from 20 different manufacturers will take part in an economy run or testing. The vehicles’ fuel efficiency will be tested during a drive from Clark to La Union and back, passing through Tarlac and Pangasinan.
The cars’ performance will be tested using Euro 4 compliant fuels. Euro 4 fuels have been mandated by law as the only fuels legally accepted to be on the market because of their low sulfur and benzene emissions.
DOE Secretary Zenaida Monsada said on Wednesday (May 4) Euro 4 fuels have less sulfur, which is a major pollutant that attracts particles. “If you reduce sulfur levels you have cleaner air,” said DOE Secretary Zenaida Monsada said.
The compliance according to the DOE is in accordance with efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to protect the environment.
Studies say that 80 percent of Metro Manila’s pollution is due to motor vehicle emissions.
Monsada said this effort is in line with the DOE’s contribution to meet the targets pledged by the country during the United Nations Paris talks that aimed at limiting global warming at 2 degrees by 2030.
“In terms of the transport fuels if you use less transport fuels then you burn less fuel and you have less emissions so that will help address the emissions reduction target that we have,” she added.
Eventually all car manufacturers and importers in the country will be required to print rating labels on its advertising materials to guide a buyer when choosing a car. But for now the labels are not yet mandatory. The DOE eyes to make it mandatory by 2017.
So far the efficiency rating system is mandatory only for certain consumer appliances, such as air-conditioning units and refrigerators.
