MANILA, Philippines — Pasay residents may avail themselves of free e-jeepney rides to travel to Manila starting on December 2 while public transportation is still limited during coronavirus lockdown, the city government said Tuesday.
The program was announced after the Pasay city government and Makati-based firm Global Electric Transport (GET) signed a memorandum of agreement to offer free e-jeepney rides.
“Malaki ang maitutulong nito kasi alam naman nating down ang economy natin. So sa pamamagitan ng ganitong tulong dahil wala pa masyadong masasakyan, ito magkakaroon na ng ibang ruta at libre pa (This will be a big help because our economy is suffering right now. So with this since there are still limited transportation, this will offer more routes and free rides.),” Pasay Mayor Emi-Calixto Rubiano told reporters after the agreement signing with the bus firm.
The local government said the e-jeepneys would follow this route: SM Manila to SM Mall of Asia and vice versa.
Dante Tinga, chief of GET, said each e-jeepney has a capacity of 15 people to ensure social distancing inside the vehicle.
Tinga said four to six e-jeepneys would be deployed by December 2, which coincides with Pasay’s 157th Foundation Day.
Fifty e-jeepney units will be rolled out by 2021 to increase ridership of the free rides, Tinga also said.
The local government is also looking into adding more routes for the free rides. [ac]