The Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday started replacing national government service vehicles with hybrid cars as part of its campaign to promote energy efficiency and clean air in the country.

Twenty-four 2017 Toyota Prius vehicles were donated by the Japanese government to the Office of the President, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Finance, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Transportation, Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Education, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Philippine National Police.

Eight hybrid cars will also be given to government offices in Region 8 including DENR, DTI, DOST, Bureau of Fire, Philippine Information Agency, DOT, Land Transportation Office, and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in support of the economic and social recovery of communities devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.

The grant will jump start the drive towards the call to action to the DOE's fellow public servants to increase their use or patronize energy efficient technologies, including their official vehicles. The DOE said it wants to be the role model in the cause.

Officials of the DOE's Energy Utilization Management Bureau and Japan's Ambassador to the Philippines, Kazuhide Ishikawa, turned over the hybrid vehicles in a ceremony on Friday.

Japan's grant funded the acquisition of the vehicles, which emit lower carbon emission. The hybrid car has an optimized fuel engine and electric motor to attain highest energy efficiency.