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Electric minibuses begin plying in Makati City
Electric minibuses began servicing the Makati financial district from on tuesday providing a cleaner alternative to diesel-power passenger jeeps that have been sevicing Metro Manila for years.
- By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
- Published: 00:08 July 2, 2008
Manila: Electric minibuses began servicing the Makati financial district from on tuesday providing a cleaner alternative to diesel-power passenger jeeps that have been sevicing Metro Manila for years.
The electric minibuses made its inaugural run at the Makati City central business district after a ceremony attended by city and government officials as well as clean energy advocacy groups - the GRIPP (Green Renewable Independent Power Producer) and Greenpeace.
"After a long period of waiting, we are very happy that the e-jeepneys [electric minibuses] have now been given the green light to ply commercial routes first in the city of Makati," said GRIPP Chairperson Athena Ballestros.
Alberto Suansing, head of the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board, said in two weeks' time, they will come up with the fare rates for the new type of public transport. Meanwhile, the buses will run for free.
The e-jeepney started plying in Makati City less than a year after the launch of first two test units.
The department of transportation only released the e-jeepney's guidelines for registration on April 28, allowing it on public roads ten months after its introduction.
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