By Marialen Galicia-Archie

The Department of Energy (DOE) has officially turned over 50 units of electric tricycles (e-trikes) to the municipal government of Brooke’s Point to promote energy efficiency and clean technologies in the transport sector.

They are part of the DOE’s implementation of the Market Transformation through Introduction of Energy Efficient Electric Vehicles Project or the E-Trike Project with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Clean Technology Fund (CTF)

DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos led the turnover on February 28, 2019, of the units to Brooke’s Point mayor Mary Jean Feliciano.

Brooke’s Point is the first municipality in the MIMAROPA region to be granted the e-trike units.

“Sa totoo lang hindi biro ang pinagdaanang proseso ng mga papeles para maibigay ang proyektong ito sa bayan ng Brooke’s Point. Katakot-takot na pakikipag-ugnayan ang isinagawa. Pero dahil nakikita natin na karapatdapat ang inyong bayan, mabilis ang naging proseso at ang inyong bayan ang kauna-unahang nakatanggap nito sa buong MIMAROPA,” said USec. Marcos.

Marcos said the e-trike project aims to lower the transport sector’s annual petroleum consumption by 2.8 percent (based on 20 million barrels annual consumption in 2010) and to avoid CO2 emission of estimated 259,008 tons annually by shifting to 100,000 units.

The turnover started with Marcos, Mayor Feliciano, and other officials going around town riding the e-tricycles to show its features.

Marcos said the DOE selected Brooke’s Point as pilot area of the e-trike project because of its display of commitment to protecting its environment.

During the turnover event, Feliciano also announced that the Provincial Board has also approved a resolution naming Brooke’s Point as the first model municipality of the “Road Towards Green City”.

She said the turnover of the e-trikes matches their town’s goal to be committed to protecting the environment.

The project is “an offshoot of the ADB and the DOE pilot study of 20 locally assembled e-trikes powered by improved lithium-ion batteries in the City of Mandaluyong.

Also present during the event were members of the Brooke’s Point municipal council; Engr. Matbew C. Garcia, DOE Supervising Science Research Specialist; Daniel Collin G. Jornales, DOE Senior Science Research Specialist, and board member Eduardo Modesto Rodriguez.

Source: Palawan News