The Department of Energy (DOE) has encouraged motorists to make use of bike routes and “green routes” as oil prices spiked for the ninth consecutive week.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said on July 20 the Metro Manila was experiencing a transition with the introduction of green routes where bicycles and electric vehicles could be used.

“Meron tayong tinatawag na bike lanes at green routes. ‘Yon ang mga tinitingnan nating pwedeng gawin ng ating mga consumer sa transition dahil tinutulak din natin ‘yong pagbawas ng ating carbon emission,” Fuentebella said in a government briefing.

(We have bike lanes and green routes which we see consumers can use in the transition because we are pushing for minimizing carbon emission in the country.)

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has cut production amid higher demand of 5.6 billion barrels of petroleum per day, which raised prices in the world market and affected local players, Fuentebella said. Jelo Ritzhie Mantaring