MANILA, Philippines—The Marikina city government has urged tricycle drivers to switch to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to cut their operating expenses amid rising fuel prices.

The City Transportation Management Office recently conducted a seminar on the cost benefits of using LPG for representatives of different tricycle groups in Marikina.

CTMO chief Princess Feliciano said that by using LPG, tricycle drivers and operators can reduce their daily fuel cost by as much as P407 or more than P12,000 in a month.

“The savings generated from LPG can be used to augment daily expenses like food and education,” Feliciano said in a statement.

Apart from being cheaper, LPG is also more environment-friendly compared to diesel-powered engines, she added.

Based on studies, LPG-run engines emit 30 to 35 percent less carbon monoxide compared to engines that use conventional fuels. In addition, they discharge 99 percent less ultra-fine particles and nitrogen oxides, Feliciano said.

The CTMO chief said the city government is drafting plans to reduce the cost of engine conversion for tricycle drivers and operators. Right now, she added, the process costs P14,000.