I used to study at Makati, some four years ago, when I spent a semester in a school there. Travelling from Bulacan to Makati is stressful (but in comparison to my mom’s Bulacan – Las Pinas loop everyday, it was almost nothing.) Imagine the stress I would get for a day. I had acute bronchitis just before the semester ended, so I needed to transfer (with a couple more of reasons.)
An overview of Makati City from the City Mayor’s Office
I guess, what really added to the stress of everyday commuting is that urban pollution took a toll on my health. Thankfully, a group of individuals and companies took a step on reducing pollution in the country’s premiere financial district. On 2009, Makati City, in cooperation with the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (iCSC) launched the E-Jeepney.
E-Jeepney design from local art scene trailblazer Toym Imao
The eJeepney is locally designed and assembled by PhUV Inc., the business arm of MVPMAP. It can comfortably seat 14 passengers (12 at the rear and two at the front, including the driver) and can be operated for about 65 kms after every full charge at a maximum of speed of 35 kph. It is just part of a bigger program, the Climate Friendly Cities Program of iCSC. This program has three major components: a biodigester fed with biodegradable household wastes to generate electricity, a depot or a terminal and the end-users of the electricity generated by alternative means, a fleet of eJeepneys.
The locally-assembled eJeepney is the very first electric vehicle ever granted a license plate by the Land Transportation Office. It was also awarded a Fr. Satur Neri Award by the Presidential Adviser on Climate Change during this year’s Earth Day celebrations. (SOURCE)
Try commuting with these high heels.
City’s trusted e-jeepney drivers
Commuting is an essential part of an average Filipino. This must have been the mindset of Makati City government when they deployed several units of the E-Jeepney to service hundreds (or maybe thousands) of Makati city-dwellers FOR FREE. It’s called the Makati Green Route, which tracks the Legazpi and Salcedo Villages.
For the Salcedo Village route, from Landmark, the eJeepneys will go through Makati Avenue, Paseo de Roxas, Villar St., Dela Rosa, Valero, Sedeno, back to Paseo de Roxas, Makati Avenue and finally back to Landmark via North and Rizal Drives.
For the Legazpi Village loop, from Landmark, the eJeepneys take on Esperanza, Paseo de Roxas, Legazpi, Dela Rosa, Salcedo, Benavidez, Esperanza, Makati Avenue and finally back to Landmark through North and Rizal Drives.
Ms. Makati pays a visit to the launch
With E-Jeepney’s Rommel Juan
Last July 12, I was privileged to be invited to witness the launch of a new route to provide environment-sensitive service to more and more people in Makati. Dubbed as the Makati Heritage Route, the new loop will traverse along the city’s historic section: Barangay Poblacion from the Makati City Hall going through some historical sites such as Museo ng Makati, Poblacion Park, Pio Del Pilar High School, all the way through the Power Plant Mall towards Estrella and EDSA.
Vice President Jejomar Binay
Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Jun” Binay, who is celebrating his birthday the same day, drove through the new route.
“History and modernity merge and take shape today in Makati as climate change solutions,” said Red Constantino, executive director of the iCSC. “Cities need to take the lead and to do so will require bold leadership and pragmatic vision. We have political momentum, we are mobilizing more policy support and we are going full steam ahead, hopefully on a nationwide scale soon.”
The organization is fast-tracking application of commercial franchise papers for the E-Jeepney, in cooperation with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) who promises quick and responsive service to make this technology available to a larger market. “With spiking oil prices, the shift to e-jeepneys will not only result in cleaner air but in higher take-home income for jeepney drivers and operators,” Constantino ended.
This project is supported by Binalot Fiesta Foods, Makati Parking Authority (MAPA), Makati Commercial Estate Association (MACEA), PhilBio, British Embassy Manila and the National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS).
COMMUTERS! Catch the FREE E-Jeepney rides at The Landmark and Makati City Hall, Mondays to Fridays starting from 7:00 am to 10:00 am, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities
http://ejeepney.org
ejeepney@gmail.com
(+632) 473 3217
@eJeepPH
Le connaisseur amoureux 
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