Makati relaunches e-jeepneys

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government and groups supporting sustainable transportation will relaunch tomorrow at the Ayala Center 20 electric jeepneys (e-jeepneys) plying the Legaspi Village and Salcedo Village loop routes after they were granted franchises by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) last Feb. 8.

According to the LTFRB, the franchises given to the e-jeepneys operated by the E-Jeepney Transport Corp. are an exemption to the current moratorium on franchises to public utility jeepneys as they are deemed environment-friendly, being powered by electricity.

Given franchises are 10 e-jeepneys plying the route of Rizal Drive Terminal-Esperanza-Paseo de Roxas-De la Rosa-Makati Avenue, which surrounds Legaspi Village. This 4.4-kilometer route is called the Legaspi Village Loop.

The other 10 e-jeepneys are plying the route of West Drive-Makati Avenue-Paseo de Roxas-De la Costa Street, which is around Salcedo Village. This 3.5-kilometer route is called the Salcedo Village Loop.

The new franchises are valid for five years. At the relaunch, the license plates of the e-jeepneys will be changed to those used by public utility jeepneys.

Makati City government spokesman Joey Salgado said the e-jeepneys plying the two routes would be collecting a fare of P8 for the first four kilometers and P1.45 for every succeeding kilometer or just like the fare rate given to ordinary jeepneys, starting March 1. Salgado however said, the city government will ask the LTFRB to reduce the fare to P7.

Makati is the first city in the country to establish green routes for e-jeepneys.