PALO, Leyte—The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas received 45 brand-new Toyota Prius hybrid cars donated by the Japanese government to areas affected by Supertyphoon Yolanda.
The Department of Energy (DOE) facilitated the release of the vehicles that will be distributed to different police units in the region.
PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar received the vehicles on behalf of the regional police force from Takui Nakayama, First Secretary of the Japan Embassy in Manila and Undersecretary Benito L. Ranque of the DOE.
Beltejar said 20 hybrid patrol cars will be given to the Leyte Provincial Police Office, eight to Eastern Samar police, one each to Biliran, Northern Samar and Samar police offices, two to Ormoc and three to Tacloban police.
The PNP’s Regional Public Security Battalion will get one patrol car and eight to
PNP regional headquarters.
“The DOE will also provide a P200,000 annual budget for the next five years for the maintenance of the car,” Beltejar added.
Before the turnover, three policemen for each recipient police station were trained on the handling, driving and maintenance of the cars. Beltejar said only trained personnel would be allowed to drive the hybrid patrol cars.
Ranque said the nonproject grant aid from Japan aims to promote the use of efficient and environment-friendly alternative-fuel vehicles through the use of next-generation
vehicles.
Ranque added the “innovative technology” will help the country reduce carbon emission and contribute to the country’s compliance with international agreements on climate change.
Earlier, the DOE also turned over eight hybrid cars to national government agencies in Eastern Visayas, such as the Philippine Information Agency, Department of Trade and Industry and Office of Civil Defense.
Part of the agreement for the donation of hybrid cars is for the recipients to help the DOE in the research, performance testing and promotion of alternative fuel vehicles for local adaptation.
The hybrid cars are powered by electricity and fuel.
The Japanese government provided to the Philippine government a ¥500-million (about P250 million) grant for the procurement and delivery of the hybrid vehicles under the Japan Non-Project Grant Aid.