ILOILO City – As it gears towards becoming environmentally sustainable, this city has partnered with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) to promote environment-friendly transportation.
Iloilo City is one of the four sites chosen by the UNDP and DOTr for technical assistance in crafting policies and programs for a low-carbon urban transport system.
According to Jeck Conlu, head of the city’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), this is also the reason why the city government is encouraging city-based transport cooperatives to acquire modernized electric vehicles (e-vehicles).
Just recently, 10 units of e-vehicles acquired by Aerostar Transport Cooperative arrived. The units are intended for Tagbak to City Proper routes.
Representatives from UNDP, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) presented two units of modernized electric jeepney units to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.
Conlu explained that emission from public transport vehicles is the biggest contributor to air pollution. Thus, the crafting of policies and programs focused on public utility vehicles/jeepneys, including tricycles.
Treñas, for his part, said the program will be a big help in reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. It is also in line with the city’s direction to be a smart city and jives with his W.H.E.E.L.S. (Welfare, Health and Sanitation, Education, Environmental Management, Livelihood, and Sustainability) Inclusive Development for Environment and Sustainability development roadmap.
Meanwhile, DOST regional director Rowen Gelonga said the units presented to Treñas are modernized e-vehicles run by electricity from rechargeable batteries.
“Para siyang launching sang pag-test sang aton mga prototype vehicles which is part sang DOTr PUV modernizations. Instead of running on conventional engines nga gakinahanglan gasoline and diesel, those units are running on electricity. So ang nagapadalagan energy coming from the batteries nga naka-install sa unit kag gina-recharge using electricity,” Gelonga explained.
He added these are being considered to be more environment-friendly vehicles that they would like to test whether it is feasible in terms of various performance dimensions to be used by transport cooperatives and operators in the city.
The units are actually commercial vehicles purchased outside the country and being tested not only in Iloilo City but also in other parts of the country.
“Naka-initial na testing last year but we need more comprehensive test run in Iloilo City. May technical team ang UNDP that will assist us, in partnership with DOTr, in testing technical and commercial viability of the e-vehicles for public transport,” Gelonga explained.
On the part of DOST, Gelonga said they will also partner in the conduct of performance testing as well as collaborate in the rollout of new technologies related to the development of e-vehicles.
“We have already funded a research for the development of fast-charging stations. Ang aton na nga mga batteries usually will take three to four hours before ma-fully charge. The DOST in partnership with UP (University of the Philippines) Diliman was able to develop a new and faster charging system. Instead of three to four hours charging, we can do it in 30 minutes,” Gelonga added.
ILOILO CITY AS REGIONAL INNOVATION HUB BY 2030
The project jives with DOST’s “Innovate Iloilo” plan, said Gelonga.
In fact, they have already discussed with Treñas the “Innovate Iloilo” as a development platform in prepositioning the city to become a regional innovation hub by 2030.
“Part of our ‘Innovate Iloilo’ target is really to transform the city into becoming a smart and sustainable city. The most important is modernizing and making our transport system more environment-friendly so we can avoid pollution and other concomitant effects of burning fossil fuel. We are very glad and committed to support this project with DOTr, the city government and UNDP. We are finalizing putting up charging system stations,” Gelonga added./PN
