City Council wants further study on e-vehicles

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has requested the committees on transportation, and environment to study whether the adoption of sustainable transportation through electric vehicles is feasible.

Councilor Nestor Archival Sr. sponsored a resolution regarding the matter which was approved by the council.

The two committees were requested to submit a recommendation to the council within 30 days or on or before August 15, 2022.

“In line with the policy direction of the Honorable City Mayor (Michael Rama) making Cebu City into a Singapore-like city, thus it is best to find other alternative modes for cost-saving,” said Archival.

Archival said that during the budget hearing of the proposed Supplemental Budget No. 2 for calendar year 2022, it was found that the city government is allocating almost 300,000 liters of gasoline annually.

The city government has more or less 1,300 vehicles.

Archival said maintaining this huge number of vehicles, which include not just gasoline but also lubricants among others, would cost the city government more or less P400 million yearly.

He said during the past months, the price of gasoline and diesel is consistently increasing adding that the city government is maintaining a depot, as such there is high probability of pilferage.

The councilor said electric vehicles are already available in the country.

“There is a need to consider alternative sources of fuel like electric energy which is clean, safe, reliable, efficient and cost-saving that can be used to run/operate our fleet of vehicles,” said Archival.

To recall, it was Archival who suggested for the city government to start the gradual use of electric vehicles to be able to save money.

He said the city should adopt a proof of concept wherein instead of utilizing gasoline or diesel engines, the city should purchase electric cars. — GMR (FREEMAN)