Only e-trikes allowed when Boracay reopens

ILOILO City – When Boracay reopens on Oct. 26 after six months of rehabilitation, the mode of transport in the world-famous resort island would no longer be the noisy, smoke-belching tricycles.

It’s going to be the eco-friendly electronic tricycles or e-trikes, said Director Richard Osmeña of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6.

With less than three months to go before the reopening, however, the e-trike plan raises several questions.

What will happen to the estimated 2,000 motorcycles that used to transport tourists around the island, and their drivers?

Osmeña said LTFRB would be taking this up with the local government unit of Malay, Aklan which has jurisdiction on Boracay.

“We are looking for ways kun diin namun sila ibutang, kun makaobra pa sila or ma-shift sila from old tricycles to the new e-trikes,” said Osmeña.

The director did not say where the e-tricycles would come from and if there would be enough of these vehicles to serve the thousands of people expected to once again pack Boracay.

“We will add more of e-trikes (by) up to a thousand maybe,” said Osmeña.

When Boracay was closed to tourism activities on April 26, LTFRB counted only some 50 e-trikes operating in the island.

Would the government itself be the e-trike operator or would it open this sector to private players? How much would the fare be? There are no clear answers as of this writing.

What is certain, however, is the phaseout of the traditional tricycles.

“Ma-amat-amat na ko. I will help take them out,” said Osmeña.

In Executive Order No. 007-2018, Malay’s Mayor Ceciron Cawaling directed the Malay Transportation Office to implement a gradual phaseout of tricycles in Boracay and promote the use of environment-friendly e-trikes to reduce traffic congestion and air and noise pollution.

The director also hinted the possibility of allowing electric jeepneys to operate on the island.

“Kun ikaw guest sang Boracay, mabakal ka lang bracelet. You can use it for three days to one week in going around the island without having to spend for fare within such period,” said Osmeña./PN