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Binay urges national government to be more environment-conscious

11/21/2007

It’s about time the national government to be more environment-conscious.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay yesterday said the national government should start prioritizing the state of the country’s environment in light of the crisis brought by climate change at the turn-over ceremony of the city’s two electric jeepneys to Barangay Bel-Air yesterday.

“Philippines must begin to create programs that will address environmental concerns such as the one already started in Makati,” the mayor said, adding the project could address the rising fuel cost, promote the use of alternative fuels and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Meanwhile, Makati is urging the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) to fast-track the issuance of franchises to the e-jeeps.

“We hope the national government agencies will start to pick up from our example and speed up the processing of the necessary documents,” Binay said.

He explained they chose to let the jeepneys run in Bel-Air’s private roads first than to keep them in their holding area at the Makati Fire Station while waiting for the permits.

“We need to cooperate and act now to save our environment,” Binay said.

Representatives from Greenpeace and the Green Renewable Independent Power Producer Inc. (Gripp) who were present during the turnover reiterated Binay’s call to action.

“Makati’s introduction of the electric jeepneys could serve as an example the national government could follow,” they said, excited to see how the e-jeepneys will fare during an actual road run.

The two jeepneys are set to go on a two-month test run in Barangay Bel-Air.

The mayor hopes to introduce them to other cities in the country, saying they will revolutionize public transport in the country and help clean up the environment.

The two jeepneys will have two terminals or pick-up points during the run. Terminal 1 will run from Gate 9/Zodiac Street, left to Mercedes Street, right to Amapola Street, right to Aquarius Street, right to Hydra Street, left to Solar Street and right to Zodiac back to Gate 9.

Terminal 2 will run from the Security Headquarters on Solar Street, left to Zodiac Street toward Gate 5/Estrella, right to Taurus, left to Amapola, right turn from Gate 6 to Rockwell Powerplant Mall where the jeepney will go around back to Aquarius Street, then right to Hydra Street going back to the Security Headquarters.

The city government of Makati in partnership with Gripp, Solar Electric Co. and Greenpeace first launched the electric jeepney project on July 4 at the Ayala Center.

Ben Gines Jr.