DOE deploys e-trikes to LGUs to ferry frontliners

MANILA: Electric tricycles (e-trikes) have been deployed to local government units (LGUs) to help transport healthcare personnel and other frontliners to their workplaces. This is an initiative to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic even as the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in some parts of the country has been extended, according to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

During the Laging Handa public briefing, Secretary Cusi added that the e-trike rides are for free. Here in the country, e-trikes have been designed to transport more passengers in greater comfort and safety.

Based on a previous report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), carbon dioxide emissions in the Philippines will quadruple in less than 25 years. In line with this, numerous alternatives were laid down to help address the issue. The conceptualization and stringent implementation of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 led to the introduction of the e-trike as one of the recommended solutions. The ADB collaborated with the DOE in the introduction of e-trikes to the LGUs, as a replacement for motorized tricycles.  

E-trikes are emission-free and are not reliant on fossil fuel. Moreover, the utilization of e-trikes has aided in increasing the income of tricycle drivers and in creating more job opportunities as well. E-trikes have also been observed to be quieter, more convenient to use, and more cost-efficient compared to the motorized tricycles.

Amid the growing popularity of e-trikes in the country, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines or EVAP was established in 2009. The goal of the organization is not just to unite the primary electric vehicle (EV) players in the Philippines, but also to boost EV advocacies as one group and to secure incentives from the government.

According to Secretary Cusi, the DOE was able to deploy 3,000 e-trikes to LGUs last year. Over 1,640 e-trikes are presently operating to cater to frontliners.

In Metro Manila, the cities that are currently utilizing e-trikes for ferrying frontliners include Valenzuela (250 units), Pasay (101 units), Malabon (175 units), Pasig (200 units), and Mandaluyong (170 units).

In Valenzuela, the e-trikes are also being used as mobile markets.

LGUs in Laguna, like Los Baños, Biñan, and Bay, also released 120 e-trikes to provide free transportation for frontliners.

Meanwhile, 200 e-trikes were provided in Carmona City to assist the LGUs in serving the frontliners. A total of 120 e-trikes are also being used at Echague, Isabela, and 20 e-trikes were deployed in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Aside from the reported information of the DOE, the government of Manila City is also one of the first LGUs to provide e-trikes for ferrying healthcare personnel and frontliners to their designated workplaces.