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TWO
legislators are pushing for a legislated package of tax
exemptions and incentives to importers of hybrid and
similar types of fuel-saving and environment-friendly
vehicles and equipment to promote their commercial
viability in the country.
House
Speaker Prospero Nograles and Nationalist People’s
Coalition Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza of Agusan del Sur
filed House Resolution 716 urging the House Committees
on Ways and Means, Science and Technology and Trade and
Industry to conduct joint public hearings in aid of
legislation to identify measures to promote the
development of hybrid and similar fuel-saving and
environment-friendly vehicles and equipment in the
country. This includes the grant of tax exemptions and
incentives.
They
cited the need for Congress to immediately craft the
package of initiatives in order to cushion the impact of
rising world oil prices, reduce or eliminate the
country’s independence on imported fossil fuel-based
energy sources and promote locally available and
environment-friendly resources.
The use
of fuel-saving equipment and hybrid vehicles that
combine the clean energy of the electric motor with the
gas-powered engine for lower emissions and better
mileage has long-term benefits that will sustain the
implementation of Republic Act 8749, or the Philippine
Clear Air Act of 1999, the lawmakers added.
They
promotion and use of hybrid and similar fuel-saving and
environment-friendly vehicles in the country will also
boost efforts to promote energy conservation and energy
independence.
Nograles
cited President Arroyo’s policy statement that
independence from energy sources based on fossil, fuel
and other materials that are not domestically available
shall be a cornerstone of her administration’s program.
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