Issues with Philippines Road Transport Energy Consumption
The Philippines has seen rapid increases in personal motorization and vehicle use in the last decade. Despite this, official statistics show only a modest increase in fuel consumption. This paper, from 2013 Lee Schipper Memorial Scholar Sudhir Gota, examines official fuel consumption data in the Philippines in contrast to bottom-up calculations to inform policy decisions. It finds that use of official fuel consumption statistics may lead to serious errors.
Executive Summary
Department of Energy of Philippines statistics reveal that from 2000 to 2010, the road transport fuel consumption and corresponding CO2 emissions have grown modestly with an annual growth rate of 0.5%. This modest growth is in contrast to the rapid increase in vehicle numbers, economic activity and in absence of implementation of comprehensive sustainable transport policies and options. The main objective of this research is to correlate official fuel consumption data (i.e. top-down) with bottom up quantifications and provide relevant policy recommendations. Based on the assessment of transport demand variables and review of policies and strategies, fuel consumption in transport sector was found to be growing at a much faster rate when compared to official estimates. Use of official data on fuel consumption in road transport sector may lead to serious errors. This has huge implications on policies and investments.