Makati Police Cars to Run on Cooking Oil: Manila, Philippines
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July 30 – The Makati City Central Police introduced a biodiesel program on July 29 under which it will be using biodiesel extracted from used cooking oil, instead of pure diesel, to run its patrol cars. The switch from high-priced gasoline to cost-efficient biodiesel would help the Makati police save a lot of money.
July 30 – The Makati City Central Police introduced a biodiesel program on July 29 under which it will be using biodiesel extracted from used cooking oil, instead of pure diesel, to run its patrol cars. The switch from high-priced gasoline to cost-efficient biodiesel would help the Makati police save a lot of money.
Under the program, squad cars in Manila’s busy central business district will run on a combination of 60% diesel and 40% used cooking oil. US fast-food chain McDonald’s Corp (NYSE: MCD) has offered to donate used cooking oil from all its Makati outlets for this program. Other restaurants are also considering donating their used cooking oil, the disposal of which is a problem for food establishments, at the Makati Used Cooking Oil Centers.
The initiative was taken by Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz and his friend Engineer Roel John Judilla, who is an engineering professor and a navy officer. According to Cruz, the rising cost of fuel was having a serious impact on the operations of the Makati City police, which had been forced to cut down on their patrol operations.
Gilbert Cruz said using biodiesel will help increase the mileage of patrol cars, apart from protecting the environment. According to the police chief, with diesel price touching P57.65 per liter, the city police usually spends about P3,459 to fill a 60-liter car tank. After the switch to biodiesel is implemented, the police will need only P2,490.48 to completely fill a patrol car, resulting in the total savings of about P500,000 per year, Cruz added. As the research on the use of biodiesel for patrol cars is still underway, Cruz could not comment on the amount spent on the research.
Metro Manila police chief Geary Barias, who also attended the launch of the initiative, said that the Makati police was the first among the Philippine National Police to have taken the initiative. Barias added that there is a possibility of other police units following suit in adopting biodiesel. Maybe the eventual approval of this measure for the entire national police could be recommended to the DRD (Directorate for Research and Development), Barias stated.
Alternatio Cirqui, EconomyWatch.com Energy Correspondent
