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THE
rising cost of fuel is not the only major problem the
world is facing these days. There is also the dilemma of
low corn production.
Floods
have recently wreaked havoc on many corn-producing
cities in the United States, gravely affecting the price
of corn in the world market, as well as the prices of
dairy products and, therefore, the viability and
production of alternative fuels such as ethanol.
With
much of America’s agricultural lands under water and
huge tracts of farmland planted to corn washed out, many
farm animals are ending up in slaughterhouses because of
the scarcity of corn feeds.
The huge
losses in corn production have also driven prices in the
world market to unbelievable heights. Farmers and dairy
products producers are now competing with biofuels
production companies for corn.
It is
what opponents of biofuels have been harking about ever
since: biofuels production will outstrip food production
in the long run.
Although
the biofuels law is already in effect, few motorists are
using E10 or biodiesel. Instead, we see many car owners
converting to LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas, which is
almost half the price of regular gas. The cost of
converting vehicles to LPG is no longer an issue since
it is offset by the low cost of using LPG on a per liter
basis compared with gasoline.
After
the implementation of the Biofuels Act, nothing has been
heard from its proponents. Those who have lobbied for or
invested in biofuels should promote the planting of more
corn or farm products on our idle lands in order to
supply their needs, and not compete with the local
buyers who use them for food.
****
Although
many local governments incur huge electric bills from
operating streetlights, they should not forget about the
motorists who use their roads especially at night.
Many
streets in the metropolis are dark because many local
governments have ordered the scrapping of streetlights
as part of their energy-saving measures.
Although
it may seem a worthwhile project, it compromises the
safety of our streets.
Take the
case of Paz Mendoza Guanzon Street in Pandacan, where
various car distributors are located. The stretch
starting from that very big department store at the foot
of the bridge near the National Food Authority office up
to Malacañang Garden is pitch black at night. We have so
many unlighted streets like that one all over Metro
Manila. Even on Edsa, we don’t know how one can navigate
through unlighted portions, especially when driving in
the rain. They are places where accidents are just
waiting to happen.
Our
local governments should put up bright lights or signs
on dark streets to help motorists at night.
****
OUR
colleague Jude Morte wrote us regarding his harrowing
experience on the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex), which
needs the attention of officials there. Here’s what he
told us:
“I’d
like to relay to you two irritating things I’ve noticed
on the Nlex lately. The first is irresponsible truck
drivers who don’t check/troubleshoot their vehicles
before leaving their respective factories or departure
areas.
“Driving
home from the north and some 10 kilometers near Manila,
one truck full of cases of soft drinks lost its brakes
and rammed into a fellow truck (also loaded with soft
drinks) right at the Valenzuela exit of Nlex. Traffic
was backed up all the way to the Petron Marilao station
(southbound)! Talk about irresponsibility, it took us
nearly 45 minutes to travel from Petron Marilao (Nlex
southbound) to the accident area!
“The
second is the concrete reblocking of the Nlex
intersection that turns right to Metro Manila
(specifically Edsa, when you go straight ahead up to
C3). It happened on a Saturday and the work stretched
out for the whole day. There was no previous advisory
given by the MMDA regarding the reblocking, and as a
result there was a massive traffic jam that went 10 to
12 kilometers back!
“And
because of this, the food catch basins of Metro
Manila—particularly the bagsakan market of San
Francisco del Monte—didn’t get their regular scheduled
delivery of food/produce on time.
“Hope
you could bring that up in your motoring column one
time. I talked to a number of drivers that ply the Nlex
route who bring their produce to and from Manila, and
it’s beginning to be a major headache na!”
****
NOW that
many motorists are converting to LPG, the government
must come up with safety procedures on their use.
Although
many companies that adapt vehicles to LPG use have
sprouted up all over Metro Manila, we have yet to see
the government state clear-cut policies on the use of
LPG tanks in motor vehicles.
How safe
are those tanks? This is the main concern of not only
those who wish to convert to LPG but also of commuters
who ride taxis, many of which have already been
converted to LPG.
LPG
tanks that are installed in cars are supposed to
withstand a crash or even a bullet’s direct hit. But can
they really?
There
were reports in the past that unregulated and unsafe LPG
tanks have proliferated the local market and that buyers
were warned to check them out before installing them
into their vehicles. Now, are there any government
agencies telling us which suppliers are safe if we want
to convert to LPG? Is this another case of “let’s wait
for another accident to happen before an investigation
is made”? |
