INQUIRER.net / Noy Morcoso
MANILA, Philippines – Several barangays in Quezon City, particularly in the Tomas Morato area, have committed to utilizing environment-friendly e-tricycles, Mayor Joy Belmonte announced on Wednesday after the turnover of 15 e-trike units to qualified beneficiaries in Barangay Sacred Heart.
“I think that’s the perfect place to pilot this because iyan ang puntahan ng mga tao. Ito’y tourist destination natin at gusto natin ipakita na dito sa mga lugar na ito, nagsisimula na tayong gumamit ng green energy at renewable energy (The area is a tourist destination and we want to show the public that we are starting to make use of green and renewable energy),” Belmonte said.
“Marami ring residente roon at tingin ko matutuwa sila dahil hindi maiingay ang e-trikes na ito (There are also many residents in the area and I think they will be happy to welcome noise-free tricycles),” she added.
Belmonte expressed optimism that the e-trikes will encourage tricycle organizations to embrace the use of modern technology.
The city government is set to establish a program covering maintenance, fleet management, charging stations and other incentives, to make e-tricycles more sustainable for tricycle drivers.
“Magbibigay rin tayo ng subsidy kapag kailangan nang palitan ang mga baterya ng e-trike (There will be subsidies in cases where batteries need to be changed),” said Belmonte.
She added that the city government will come up with more ways to encourage tricycle drivers to give up their gasoline-powered units and switch to the more environment-friendly e-tricycle.
The Department of Energy (DOE donated 300 e-trikes to the city government to promote energy efficiency and clean technologies.
Belmonte is set to distribute fleets of e-trikes to more barangays in the coming days. /gsg