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Philippines: As oil prices surge, NEDA pushes transportation solutions
MANILA, Philippines — The government has suggested more innovative solutions such as active transportation to deal with rising oil prices, especially as the Ukraine-Russia conflict is expected to put further pressure on the commodity’s global costs.
During Go Negosyo’s town hall webinar yesterday, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said oil supply and prices are out of the hands of the Philippines being a net importer of the commodity.
Brent crude, the basis for international pricing, skyrocketed on Thursday, breaking past the $100 per barrel mark for the first time in seven years after Russia ordered a military operation in Ukraine.
Tension continues to rise between the two countries, effectively putting pressure on oil prices globally.
NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said it is necessary to come up with more “innovative solutions” such as promoting biking to address the demand side.
She said that even Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua has been engaged in such mode of transportation.
“We have started with encouraging more of the active transport. We have to continue creating safe bike lanes,” Edillon said.
“In the immediate term, it’s really about having more innovative solutions with respect to the transport sector,” she said.
During the height of the lockdowns in 2020, many Filipinos shifted to cycling as public transport was halted for months. And even quarantine restrictions were slowly eased, public vehicles had to reduce their carrying capacity to ensure social distancing.
NEDA earlier said promoting cycling and other modes of active transportation will provide safe, healthy, and affordable means of participating in the economy.
Promoting sustainable and inclusive mobility is in line with the National Transport Policy that encourages local government units and national agencies to give priority to development of proper sidewalks and networks of bicycle lanes.
Apart from active transportation, Edillon said NEDA has been toying with the idea of businesses hiring people who live in close proximity.
“If you are putting up a restaurant [in a certain area], try to get people and employees that are also from there. It will also be to the benefit of your company,” she said.
The NEDA official maintained that there is a need to have more of the other forms of energy to lessen the country’s dependence on oil.
Not only to comply with climate change agreements, Edillon said this is the smart way to diversify and harness sources sustainably.
Source: https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/02/25/2163159/oil-prices-surge-neda-pushes-transportation-solutions