eJeepney franchise pioneers urge public to support vehicle for change

As it launched the first ever commercial public transport franchise for electric jeepneys, sustainable energy advocate Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities called on the public to switch to green solutions and support the eJeepney.

 

ICSC director Red Constantino believes the eJeepney is not just good for the environment, but for people and businesses as well. He said the project is designed to be scaled up, and is "sharing an initiative that others can probably do better." 

 

"Binuksan lang namin ang pinto. Ang operators hindi na kailangan kumatok. Kailangan lang pumasok sa pinto at mag-apply na rin ng sarili nilang franchise, because the biggest incentive right now is they will probably earn more," said Constantino at the eJeepney launch on February 27.  

Held in Ayala Center in Makati, the launch marked the beginning of what the group hopes will be a nationwide shift to electric public transport. On Feb. 8, 2012, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued the country's first electric public utility jeepney franchise to eJeepney Transport Corporation (EJTC). 

 

Beginning March 1, the 20-vehicle eJeepney fleet that has been plying Legaspi Village and Salcedo Village in Makati will charge a minimum fare of 8 pesos for each ride. For three years, the eJeepneys have been operating along these routes, as well as a third Heritage Zone Loop Route.

 

EJTC CEO Yuri Sarmiento said the innovation does not stop with the eJeepney, and they are working on implementing other projects, including an e-ticketing system which can be aligned with the MRT, tollways and eJeepneys. 

 

"The eJeepney should be a vehicle for change," Sarmiento said. Apart from being a green transport solution, the eJeepney drivers will have fixed salaries, as opposed to the boundary system where drivers need to get as many passengers as possible. Drivers of the EJTC franchise will get a minimum salary, thirteenth month pay, as well as SSS, Philhealth and PAGIBIG benefits. "Kumpleto. Heto ang gusto nating mangyari, na ang driver maangat ang kanyang dignidad," said Sarmiento. Apart from these benefits, the eJeepney is easier to drive. "Mas smooth, kasi walang clutch. Automatic na ito," said one eJeepney driver during the launch. 

 

Constantino explained that a jeepney that runs on diesel needs 1,000 pesos worth of fuel to travel 100 kilometers. An eJeepney can cover the same distance on a full charge of 8 hours, which costs around 200 to 220 pesos. Constantino said that this makes giving the drivers a fixed salary possible. "This creates job security, improved traffic, and better discipline," he said. Another innovation is the Battery Swap Program, where a "roll off, roll on" process eliminates the 6-8 hours charging time by allowing eJeepneys to switch the spent battery sets with fully charged ones. This will be done at designated depots, and will take around ten minutes.

 

Constantino noted that partnership with government is critical, as the government can regulate as well as understand where to place the incentives for those who will shift to green transport.

 

LTFRB Management and Information Division chief Nida Quibic said the Board together with the DOTC will aid in processing requests for more eJeepney franchises. "Yun po ang commitment ni Secretary Mar Roxas at Chairman Jaime Jacob na bibigyan ng priority ang sino man na applicants sa eJeepney franchise," she said.

 

While Makati is the first city to have eJeepneys, Sarmiento said they are in serious talks with Pasig, Pasay and Marikina. "Hopefully hindi lang kami ang mageexpand. Hopefully other transportation groups will switch. Hindi pupuwedeng kami lang ang kikilos...sila mismo ang kumuha nito dahil ito ay para sa kanila talaga," said Sarmiento, adding that the eJeepneys are already commercially available. "They could either buy or fleet their own vehicle, or just go into conversion from using internal combustion engines to electric motors."

 

An eJeepney costs from P550,000 to P700,000. Asked if the eJeepney can also be used for routes going up to Antipolo, Sarmiento assured operators that technology is not a problem. "Lahat ng pangangailangan o requirements ng isang ruta, kaya nating gawan," he said, adding that they can put bigger wheels, bigger motors, or even submersible motors for areas prone to flooding.

 

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau Engineer Jean Rosete said that the eJeepney will be a big help in reducing air pollution. Rosete said that while it has improved in terms of particulate matter, the air pollution level is still high above the standards set in the Clean Air Act. "Based on our initial inventory, 80 percent of air pollution in Metro Manila comes from motor vehicles. At alam naman po natin na kahit clean fuel, basta may carbon, mayroon din pong pollutant, c02. But for this vehicle, talagang zero emission na," she said.

 

Meanwhile, Senator Ralph Recto's Alternative Fuel Incentives Bill will encourage vehicle operators and manufacturers to choose low emission vehicles. Recto said that while the bill's passage is currently stalled due to the ongoing impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, he believes the bill can be approved before June 30. "Kailangan maipakita ng pamahalaan na mayroong programa na maaaring malutasan ang problema ng presyo ng gasolina sa ating bansa," said Recto.

 

He emphasized that under the proposed bill, vehicles with combustion engines will not be banned. "We are just giving an incentive to those who will shift to alernative fuel vehicles," he said. Constantino added that even without the bill, the eJeepney itself is an incentive. "When you switch to environment-friendly transport, your income goes up. That's enough of an incentive," he said. — RSJ, GMA News