By Myrna M. Velasco
The Department of Energy (DOE) has fully disposed the 3,000 electric tricycles (e-trikes) under the government’s alternative transport program to at least five national government agencies (NGAs) as recipients; and 32 local government units (LGUs) as beneficiaries.
The national agencies granted with e-trikes had been the Department of Transportation for 190 units; the Armed Forces of the Philippines for 50 units; Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for 20 units; Department of Tourism for 10 units; and the DOE just secured two (2) units.
So far, the DOE reported that it handed over 272 e-trike units to the NGAs; while the balance of 2,728 units had been given to LGU-recipients in Metro Manila; Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Romblon, Palawan and Marawi City.
Of the e-trike grants, it was Quezon City that cornered the lion’s share of 300 units; followed by Valenzuela City with 250 units; then Pasig City, Marawi City and Carmona, Cavite for 200 units each.
Malabon City was also given a humongous share of 175 units; as well as Mandaluyong City with 170 units; then Muntinlupa City with 150 units; Echague, Isabela with 120 units; Pasay City with 101 units; while Las Piñas City, Manila City and Malolos, Bulacan have been given 100 units each.
The rest of the LGU-beneficiaries had been Los Baños, Laguna; Biñan City, Laguna; Bay, Laguna; Batangas City; Brooke’s Point, Palawan; San Vicente, Palawan; Odiongan, Romblon; San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan; Balagtas, Bulacan; Hagonoy, Bulacan; Angat, Bulacan; La Carlota City, Negros Occidental; Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte; Tigaon, Camrines Sur; Sagnay, Camarines Sur; then Barangays Hibago, La Purisima, Balongay and Mangayawan in Camarines Sur.
The e-trike dispersal started early part of last year with 200 units in war-torn Marawi City, which until now is still on its rehabilitation phase following months of bullet-ridden siege in 2017.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi indicated that they preferred giving out the e-trikes for free to the targeted recipients because it was made apparent to the department that it had not been feasible to dispose them to private sector takers at commercial value because of the seemingly expensive per-unit cost of the e-trikes.
On the loan for the e–trikes from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Cusi noted that “the government will pay that (at least for the 3,000 units) … because the problem was, it’s not viable for commercial rollout.” The ADB loan portion for the 3,000 e-trike units had been pegged at P1.73 billion.
He added the DoE already informed the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) “on our dispersal,” while the department also sought explanation from the ADB how they actually came up with the project concept.
It must be culled that bulk of the total P21.672 billion ADB loan, which could have funded additional 97,000 e-trike units, had been cancelled previously by the energy department.