Electric trikes start plying Bicol routes

 

 

Commuting in Bicol started to get a bit more environment-friendly on Thursday, April 23, after 10 electric tricycles started plying Naga City's streets.

 

Dubbed e-trikes, the tricycles will be the first batch to transport passengers, GMA Bicol's Mark Bongat reported.

 

Like their gasoline-fed counterparts, the e-trikes will have a minimum fare of P8. Each e-trike can accommodate six to eight people.

 

Ceasar Ortega, a tricycle driver for 20 years, said he chose the e-trike due to its lower operating cost.

 

"Kukunsumo lang kai ng P200 sa loob ng 24 oras samantalang doon sa tricycle, kumukunsumo (ka) ng P400 to P500 sa loob ng isang araw," said Ortega, who chairs the Metro Naga Electric Transport group.

 

But more importantly, the e-trikes are expected to cut air pollution.

 

The city government said it had passed an ordinance in 2010 about having e-trikes.

 

Meanwhile, the city government expects 100 more e-trikes to ply routes in the city. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News