Cutting back on government's gas bill: it's now the oldest trick in the cost cutting book but in terms of feel-good austerity-speak, it just doesn't get much better than to think of those glossy Montero's and Nativas with their blue plates locked down on weekends. And that's probably why for the third or fourth time in 3 years, it's back as a major policy pronouncement. Preceded by those immortal words "Cabinet has directed", the policy is that_ "measures be taken to reduce the high cost of operating and maintaining government's vehicle fleet."
The first measure is that the vehicle fleet will be converted from fuel to diesel, which was first promised in January of this year, to little effect, except that the man who propounded it, then-Finance Minister Fonseca did follow through by buying a new Nissan Patrol.
But more than just fuel switch ups, decals no less will be used to identify all pool vehicles, and police will be authorized to seize those vehicles being used without permission, after working hours. However ominous they may now sound, these proposals were first aired in a largely ineffective circular issued at the end of 2001. And while the vehicle cutbacks never quite worked in previous attempts, government is so pressed all around observers say that this time it just might.