Makati to launch environment-friendly transport vehicles

MANILA, Philippines - In line with its drive to promote an environment-friendly city, the Makati City government has entered into an agreement with private sector groups for the fielding of electric tricycles and four-stroke engine tricycles.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed last Monday with Global Mobility Service Philippines Inc. (GMS) and the Tricycle Operator Driver Associations of Makati City (TODA-Makati). The MOU obligates the parties to lessen air pollution and carbon emissions through the use of cloud technology and electric or the more environment-friendly four-stroke tricycles.

Makati Acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña said that through the partnership with the private and transport sectors, Makati would be able to improve its environment and air quality.

“The city government believes that the private sector could contribute much in the implementation of worthwhile programs and projects, and this MOU would bring Makati a step higher in its advocacy in improving the quality of air in the city and implementing the Clean Air Act,” Peña said in a statement.

“I am really proud that through this partnership, Makati would be the first local government in the country to have transport vehicles monitored through Global Positioning System,” he added,

Peña said each electric tricycle would be equipped with an advanced Mobility-Cloud Connecting System that will also integrate Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

Under the MOU, GMS will finance the tricycles so that operators and drivers could avail a unit at a very low downpayment and minimal daily amortization to be payable in three years. Twenty units have already been released to the operators and drivers, with 240 more in the coming months, the Makati City government said.

The city government and TODA-Makati meanwhile will ensure that only qualified operators and drivers would be able to avail of the units, who must be of good standing in the transport community. The operators and drivers could then choose to avail either the electric motorcycle or a four-stroke engine tricycle.

Through this initiative, the parties aim for the reduction of conventional types of vehicles that contribute to air and noise pollution, while promoting care for the environment, profitability, efficient transportation and latest transport technologies, the city government said.

The signing of the MOU was witnessed by members of the “Ang Bagong Makati Tricycle Federation” (AB Matrifed), an umbrella organization of 64 tricycle associations in Makati. At present there are 7,000 tricycle operators in the city with 3,000 drivers, said the Makati City government.