Friday, March 29, 2024

Manila starts phase-out of tricycles, ?kuliglig? with e-trikes

The city government of Manila has launched its e-trike project in an attempt to combat air pollution and improve the livelihood of some 1,500 legally franchised tricycle drivers in the city.

Manila mayor Joseph Estrada leads the launch of the e-trike project in Binondo
Manila mayor Joseph Estrada leads the launch of the e-trike project in Binondo

Manila mayor Joseph Estrada on Wednesday, April 5, formally turned over 50 units of e-trikes of driver-beneficiaries in Binondo.

According to Estrada, the program?s main objective is to provide poor tricycle and ?kuliglig? drivers an upgraded public transport vehicle which they can call their own.

He said that under the program, the beneficiaries don?t need to pay any ?boundary? fee. ?Installment payments and the costs of charging their e-trikes batteries will even be subsidized by the city government,? Estrada said.

The city government has bought 280 units of e-trikes, at P400,000 each, for distribution this year. Meralco has constructed several charging stations in the city, including in Binondo.

The Japanese-manufactured e-trikes run on gel-type batteries than can be fully charged in just five hours. It can carry up to six passengers and has a maximum speed of 40-45 kilometer per hour.

Estrada said the city government will procure ?thousands? more of these e-trikes to gradually replace fuel-run tricycles in the coming years to reduce air pollution in the city.

The e-trikes will have exclusively franchised routes so as not to compete with fuel-run tricycles, he added.

The first 50 beneficiaries are all residents of District 3, which has been chosen as the pilot site for the e-trike project. The district covers the areas of Binondo, Quiapo, San Nicolas, and Sta. Cruz.

The mayor said E-Trikes will also be introduced in Malate, Ermita, and University Belt districts. — PIA

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