[Trending Now] Estrada to phase-out tricycles and pedicabs in Manila next month!

Manila, Philippines – Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada announced yesterday September 17 that gasoline-run tricycles, pedicabs and kuligligs will be phase-out from the city starting next month.

Estrada said in an interview with The STAR that these vehicles will no longer be permitted to run along Manila City as they aim to make Manila the electronic tricycle or e-trike capital of the Philippines.

“By (Oct. 15), strictly there will be no more kuligligs, gasoline-run tricycles and pedicabs. We want Manila to become the e-trike capital of the Philippines and to make Manila a green city,” the former Philippine President said.

According to the mayor, there are 25,000 tricycles, pedicabs and kuligligs plying all over the town without a franchise. The city government has allotted a budget of P120 million to purchase 10,000 seven-seater e-trikes. This is just an initial budget appropriated by the city-government which has received requisite resolution from the city council.

The purchased e-trikes will be managed by qualified tricycle driver and bona fide Manila residents who will lose income due to the phase-out. Orange will be their official uniform color as it is also Estrada’s trademark color.

“Tricycle drivers are paying a daily boundary of P150 and are spending P200 for their gasoline. That is P350 per day. On an e-trike, they will not spend a single centavo for gasoline. The battery charging will be shouldered by the city government,” the Manila mayor said. 

Estrada also mentioned that those who are qualified to have the e-trike under the program will have to pay P150-P200 a day for four years which, according to him, is still favorable as these drivers will still earn more than what they are presently earning using the soon-to-be phase-out vehicles. 

Manila’s local government decided that their pilot area would be Binondo. Two charging stations will also be put up at both ends of each route.

“Pickup stations and two charging stations will be made available for them. There will be many routes. But we will have Binondo as our pilot area. We will also put e-trike stations in the university belt, Port Area, among others,” Estrada added.

City auditor Mario Lipana said that the city government is also eyeing Malate and Intramuros to be places where e-trike route will also be set up. In addition, he also said that they will coordinate with Manila Electric Co. for the set up of coin-operated battery charging stations for e-trikes.

Source: TNP, Philstar