Third world contraptions

A few days ago, I reposted an interesting article I chanced upon on my friend's Facebook timeline. Its headline reads: 'Philippines will phase-out 3.5 Million Tricycles to save EARTH & $5 Billion USD imported Gas yearly'.

I included some personal thoughts in my repost: “This makes me ever so happy, a huge step or broombroom toward sustainability. I hope the next thing brilliant minds in international organizations like the ADB can come up with is a graceful exit-one  that offers viable alternative livelihood options to all who might be displaced-for the superstar symbolism of our makeshift mentality (a double-edged trait), the third world contraption that is the ‘jeepney.’”

Although I found it rather curious why the news was not carried by any of the more established news sites (if so, I never noticed it). It's only available in a number of blogs and has also been reposted countless times on Facebook.

“The Philippines will be introducing electronic tricycle taxis to replace its petrol-fuelled models, which could cut carbon dioxide emissions by a quarter of million tons. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide $300 million and The Philippines government will provide an additional $99 million for the project. Tricycle taxis are one of the Philippines' most widely used forms of transport for travelling short distances, but they are also responsible for more than two-thirds of air pollution.”

“The ADB estimates that there are 200,000 tricycles in the Manila metropolitan region alone, and about 3.5 million in the entire country. The tricycles use nearly $5 billion of imported fuel every year, produce about ten million tons of carbon dioxide, and are the biggest source of particulate pollution in urban areas. The World Bank estimates that the total economic burden of air pollution to the Philippines economy is more than $150 million each year. The project aims to replace 100,000 petrol-fuelled tricycles with 'clean, energy efficient' electric tricycles (e-trikes) in a 'lease-to-own' arrangement.”

Checking the ADB's website, it says, “Ultimately, ADB and the government hope to see 100,000 electric tricycles on the road by 2016.” So that's 100,000 out of the 3.5 million throughout the country (less than 5% of all highly polluting tricycles currently in use). Although the article I reposted does say that the project aims to replace 100, 000 petrol-fuelled tricycles, the headline is still rather misleading as it does not, lengthy as it is, include a timeline as to when the phase out would've been entirely completed. Even the ADB website does not say.

Mandaluyong has 20 of these e-trikes plying its streets, and I assume that's the pilot area. The 100, 000 e-trikes must be a part of a more advanced phase of the program, and its outcome should be measured by slightly better air quality and the actual number of e-trikes in use being 100, 000.  But the ultimate goal is replacing the 3.5 million (it should be, right?), as the headline suggests. With a mechanism in place and the technology available, can't congress legislate the phase-out-mandating LGUs to execute and oversee the conversion of petrol-fuelled tricycles to e-trikes and assist drivers with financing schemes-so we're sure the goal is attained and objective completely met?

I have more thoughts on third world contraptions (especially jeepneys) and Filipinos' makeshift mentality next week.

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Speaking of the environmental impacts of our daily activities, I was privileged to be a part of the United Nations Environment Programme and BAYER Young Environmental Envoys (BYEE) Program when I was in college (batch 2004), and they've recently launched the search for batch 2013. I encourage all youth leaders and students with a passion for defending the integrity of creation to join and submit themselves to the selection process. Here's some information from the BYEE website:

Your Green Project can land you in Germany

If you are a Filipino college student between 18 to 24 years old, with a good idea and passion to make a difference through an environmental project, you can be one of the Bayer Young Environmental Envoys for 2013.

The Bayer Young Environmental Envoy (BYEE) is the longest running environmental program in the Philippines, organized in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). For thirteen years now, BYEE has been engaging young Filipinos to take part in environmental protection.

If you are selected as one of the 12 Bayer Young Environmental Envoys, you will have the unique experience of enriching your knowledge about the environment through a live-in BYEE Eco-Camp to be conducted by environmental experts to be held at an eco-friendly venue in the Philippines in August 2013.

The top four BYEEs will represent the country and join youth delegates from 17 other countries on a weeklong all-expense paid study tour of Germany on November 10-15, 2013. The tour will provide first-hand experience on how environmental protection is practiced by people, government and industry in a country that leads in technology and environmental awareness.

To know the requirements and other rules and procedures and to download the application form, visit www.byee.bayer.com.

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