P6.5M ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) HANDOVER IN BAGUIO CITY, A MILESTONE IN THE CORDILLERAS

November 11, 2023 Metro BLISTT

Promotion of low carbon urban transport system in PH

BAGUIO CITY

A P6.5 million per unit of an electric vehicle (EV) will be utilized in due time in the Summer Capital. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said for the initial stage of the program, two units will be in operation in days time upon a provisionary permit are granted, and its impact will reduce greenhouse gases ((GHGs) in the city as among the pilot areas in the country. Magalong added the two modern transport vehicle will be used momentarily as a shuttle service for workers in Baguio
Special Economic Zone.

Furthermore, works are underway for the construction of charging stations as EV fleet expands.
Under the project’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (EVIP), one electric vehicle public utility vehicle (PUV) is awarded to Irisan Jeepney Operators and Driver ’s Association (IJODA) Transport
Cooperative. IJODA for its part commits as a counterpart to invest in additional electric PUVs to
expand the electrification of their fleets in support of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), one of the major programs of President Ferdinand “BongBong Marcos Jr. Actually, Mayor Magalong led other government officials in handover ceremony on Friday (Nov. 10) held at Ibaloi Heritage Park.

The introduction of EV will benefit the public from a safer and healthier environment. Based on the obtained data, the promotion of Low Carbon Urban Transport Systems in the Philippines (LCT) Project, implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to provide an enabling environment for the widespread adoption of low carbon urban transport systems in the country through policy support, capacity development and awareness, and
investments.

Last month, the city government ,IJODA Transport Cooperative and three universities signed a
Memorandum of Agreement under the LCT Project, signifying commitment to advance a sustainable transportation initiatives and continue to serve as a models for other cities. “We are proud to mark then handover of the very first EV to our cooperative. This symbolizes our commitment to a greer, more sustainable future,” said Eduardo Cabanban , general manager of
IJODA, who together with other IJODA Transport Cooperative, chairman Anert Bangsael witnessed the activity.

Primo Agatep/ABN