By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
To make Boracay a sustainable ecotourism destination, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be utilizing solar-powered vehicles for the patrol and rescue service in the world-famous resort island.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu (2nd from right) looks at the solar-powered ambulance donated by Star 8 Green Technology Corporation to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for use in disaster and rescue operations in Boracay Island. (PHOTO COURTESY OF DENR / MANILA BULLETIN)
The vehicles—one patrol boat, three electric bikes (e-bikes) and one ambulance—were donated by Star 8 Green Technology Corp. and Southwest Travel and Tours to DENR.
The donation was covered by a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by the two companies and the DENR, the lead agency in the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) that is in charge of Boracay’s rehabilitation.
BIATF chair and DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu thanked the two companies for their initiative.
Cimatu said the donated vehicles would “not only help sustain enforcement and sustainability efforts, but also minimize air and noise pollution in Boracay.”
Star 8 chief executive officer Jacob Maimon said the vehicle donation is their “way of helping maintain a green environment in the island.”
Each e-bike has a range of 150 kilometers (km) on a full charge, while the ambulance has a maximum speed of 90 kph and a 20-km range. Its top speed is 100 kph.
Meanwhile, the e-banca has a speed of 5 knots and can run continuously for eight hours before charging.
Southwest will provide operational and maintenance support services for the upkeep of the units for a period of two years from the date of the turnover.