MANILA, Philippines – A Makati City-based transport group Tuesday sought the help of President Macapagal-Arroyo for the release of the P1 billion fund which she had promised, to subsidize the conversion of public utility jeepneys to liquefied petroleum gas-fed units.

Gonzalo Cerio, president of Makati Jeepney Drivers and Operators Alliance Inc. (MJODA), assailed the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for its alleged failure to finance their initiative to manufacture LPG-run jeepneys for their 6,000 members.

Ms Arroyo, he said, assured the transport sector last year that the funds would be available as loans to individuals and groups who would convert their diesel jeepneys to LPG-powered ones.

The money would come from the government’s collection of road user’s tax, he said.

“It’s been almost a year since the President promised us support. Where is the money now?” Cerio said in a news briefing.

“We had patiently attended all the government’s seminar (on ways to protect the environment). It’s really disappointing to know that all our efforts were wasted,” he said in Filipino.

With the help of Better Alternative AutoLPG Co. Inc., Cerio said they were able to produce two prototype units to prove that local assemblers could manufacture LPG-fed jeepneys.

He said the prototypes were better in terms of quality and durability than the imported surplus LPG jeepney engines from Japan.

He said a 4Y LPG engine for 14-seater jeepney costs around P260,000 while a 3RZ LP engine for 18-seater and 24-seater jeepneys costs about P350,000.

Conrado Sinchioco, MJODA vice president, said the project would have benefited members of 32 jeepney organizations.