FILE PHOTO: Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez | Photo courtesy of Albee Benitez’s Facebook page
BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, Feb. 21, with a Chinese firm that plans to put up a plant in Bacolod City that will manufacture public utility vehicles that run on electricity.
The city council, in a special session, granted the mayor authority to sign the MOU, which he will then submit to the SP for ratification, Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said on Wednesday.
Jiangsu Fengchuen New Energy Power Technology Co. chairman Longde Li signed the MOU on behalf of his firm.
The MOU stated that both parties will support the establishment of an e-jeepney assembly plant and modern industrial park in Bacolod City to boost local economic growth.
The aim is to make Bacolod the first example of a green public transport city in the Philippines, the MOU read.
Through a Public Transport Electrification “sandbox,” both parties agreed to promote the demonstration of e-jeepneys in Bacolod City and to build charging stations for their operation.
The city government will assist the Chinese firm in getting permits for its electric vehicle charging stations in Bacolod.
The representatives of the Chinese firm are expected to return to Bacolod in March for the test run of electric public utility vehicles in the city.
The P10 billion manufacturing plant aims to manufacture electric vehicles for sale in the Philippines and other Southeast Asia countries.
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