Public transport groups keen on e-jeepney shift

MANILA, Philippines - The proposal of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) to adopt electric jeepneys (e-jeepneys) received favorable feedback from several transport groups as part of their respective refleeting program.

In a recent consultative meeting organized by the Department of Transportation and Communications on the Jeepney Modernization Program of the government among the various transport stakeholders, EVAP president Rommel Juan said the group presented updates on the latest status of the electric vehicle roadmap to the transport groups.

“We want to assure them that the electric vehicle industry is willing and able to support the transport industry’s clean, green and modern direction in public transport. We hope that with proof of concept now evident, they will consider e-jeepneys in their next refleeting program,” he said.

The group said the use of e-jeepneys has spread in Metro Manila, particularly in Muntinlupa City, Makati City and Quezon City, as well as in Cavite.

EVAP said several transport leaders expressed their support to newer and cleaner alternatives such as e-jeepneys.

Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap) president Boy Vargas said e-jeepneys are a welcome development and that they actually have prototypes they are now testing.

“And so far, the results have been very encouraging,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) head Zeny Maranan said the group welcomes the use of e-jeepneys because it would improve the health of their drivers and commuters.

“In my personal experience, I now prefer to live in Antipolo rather than in Metro Manila as my asthma acts up in Metro Manila because of the air pollution. All we want in the transport sector now is for government to provide funding so that we can afford to replace our old, diesel-fueled jeepneys,” she added.

Pasang Masda head Obet Martin, for his part, said that they are open to all clean alternatives and e-jeepneys are “definitely a viable option for us.”

Currently, over 70,000 jeepneys with diesel engine ply the Metro Manila roads.