EMOTORS E-trike ZÜMs to Typhoon Yolanda-stricken Leyte

MANILA, Philippines - Don’t be surprised if you happen to see ZüM electric trikes in Palo, Leyte’s Barangay Candahug should you venture out to visit the place.

EMOTORS, Inc., the BOI-MVDP registered local manufacturer and assembler of ZüM electric 3-wheelers (e-trikes), recently delivered a fleet of its ZüM e-trikes to the typhoon Yolanda-hit area in Palo, Leyte. EMotors was chosen by foreign donors as the e-trike supplier of choice to support the transport livelihood requirements of the area.

In partnership with Don Bosco DIRECT, the ZüM electric trikes were turned-over to a Multi-Purpose Cooperative whose members consist of farmers and fisherfolk.

Barangay Candahug is a fishing and farming community with a population of less than 2,000. It is the first barangay after the boundary of Tacloban City, one that was the worst hit out of the six coastal towns of Palo, Leyte.

Based on the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN ISDR) framework essentials for making disaster-stricken cities resilient, the needs of the affected population must be placed in the center of reconstruction with the rebuilding of homes and the restoration of livelihood.

Livelihood restoration

“Since the devastating typhoon struck last November 2013, ongoing restoration and rebuilding continues but the equally important component of livelihood restoration is yet to be fully met,” says Elizabeth H. Lee, president of the social enterprise, EMotors. 

“The ZüM e-trikes used as a means of livelihood in Candahug sends a strong message of encouragement and hope to earnest Filipinos who are now struggling to find their place given the devastating circumstances the catastrophic storm left behind,” she adds.

The new owners of the e-trikes-- the drivers and operators were given training on the usage and simple maintenance of their electric vehicles. Their ZüM EVs will be used as transport livelihood, helping feed their own families while at the same time, serving their community’s transport needs.

Ray of hope

Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) nearly flattened the whole town, sweeping away with it homes and vehicles- majority of which are tricycles, one of the sources of livelihood in the area.

“There is still much to be done,” says Vic Gocela, Deputy Coordinator for Don Bosco DIRECT. “The arrival of the e-trikes may seem to be one small step for the drivers, but it symbolizes one BIG step for the whole community. It gives inspiration and a ray of hope for many of our fellow Filipinos here,” he adds.

Clean slate

The use of clean, green, zero-emission ZüM electric trikes as a means of livelihood provides an opportunity for the community to start from “clean slate”.

The main mode of transportation used in the provinces is the gas-fed tricycle. Unfortunately, it is a pollutant (both in air and noise) and is a great contributor to the daily increase in carbon emissions, the main cause of climate change. It is however, a common source of livelihood for many poor Filipinos, most notably in the provinces where lack of infrastructure and affordable transportation is prevalent.

Using the ZüM e-trikes allows the drivers/owners to do three things: (1) It allows for the drivers to feed their families and earn a decent living with a higher income above and beyond what they could earn using a gas-fed tricycle; (2) Provide the much needed transportation in the area; and (3) Help address the global issue of Climate Change Mitigation in the process, by lessening their carbon footprint.

Brighter future to come

The ZüM e-trike drivers and operator as well as the community at large stand to reap the benefits of using the e-trikes in the area. The shift in mindset from using gas-fed tricycles to electric trikes is a good one, strengthened by favorable support and openness by government officials who recognize the importance of livelihood creation and environmental protection, both of which can be achieved with e-trikes as part of the overall rehabilitation plan.

“We are privileged to be part of Palo’s future as we mark another milestone in our goal to serve the needs of Filipinos for an affordable, low maintenance, innovative and easy to use vehicle, one that helps increase one’s income while at the same time, help clean our air,” says Lee.

The integration of climate change together with livelihood programs in policy formulation and development plans for the area will bring about a brighter future not only for the people of Palo, Leyte, but for other municipalities, serving as a benchmark for others to follow.

EMotors, Inc. (EMI), a social enterprise, aims to make a positive impact on three fronts: 1) Poverty Alleviation through livelihood creation; 2) Job creation and employment; and 3) Climate Change Mitigation. The company aims to provide a solution to three (3) compelling problems: low Income, high cost and high pollution.

EMotors Inc. is the country’s first and only 100-percent Filipino-owned manufacturer and assembler of three-wheeled zero-emission electric vehicles (“e-trikes”),  to be registered with the Dept. of Trade and Industry/Board of Investment’s Motor Vehicle Development Program under EO156. It is likewise the first to be registered with the EO226, the Investment Priority Plan. The company is also accredited with the Land Transportation Office (LTO). EMotors can be contacted at Ph/Fax: 551-3100.