Earth-friendly vehicles exempt from ‘coding’ within QC

To support the shift from diesel-fed engines, the Quezon City government is exempting vehicles using alternative fuel from the number coding scheme.

Under Ordinance No. 2398 signed by Mayor Herbert Bautista on April 20, electric or hybrid vehicles and those using liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, retrofit technology and the like may apply for exemption.

The exemption will be honored only within the city.

The measure amended Section 138 or the list of exempted vehicles under Article 24 (vehicular volume reduction scheme) of the city’s Traffic Management Code. Introduced by Councilors Jesus Manuel Suntay, Raquel Malañgen, Godofredo Liban II and Eufemio Lagumbay, it aims to promote and support the Clean Air Act of 1999.

The Clean Air Act highlights the importance of shifting from conventional gas or diesel-fed engines to green alternative technology to significantly reduce toxic engine emission.

Applicants must have their vehicles subjected to inspection, pay a fee upon filing and meet other documentary requirements. Exempted vehicles will be issued stickers from the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS).

According to Suntay, this regulatory fee—to be set by the ordinance’s implementing rules and regulations—will be about P100 per vehicle to cover the cost of the sticker and other administrative expenses.

The measure will be implemented by the DPOS and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

In September last year, electric jeepneys called Comets (City-Optimized Managed Electric Transport) started commercial operations in Quezon City, taking passengers on a 22-kilometer route covering Mindanao Avenue, Congressional Road, Luzon Avenue and Katipunan, with depots at SM North and LRT-Katipunan station.