World oil prices 'super-spike' to $135 per barrel
Pia: More e-jeeps solution to sky-high oil prices

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today said surging world prices of petroleum products should compel the government and stakeholders in the transport sector to start investing in environment-friendly vehicles that run on alternative fuels and renewable energy.

"The need to shift to alternative fuels is both logical and urgent. More eco-friendly vehicles means less reliance on petroleum. We save foreign exchange on imported oil and get to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from using fossil fuels," said Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

The senator particularly lauded reports today that the Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (MVPMAP) has agreed to work with the Green Renewable Independent Power Produce (GRIPP) to produce 44 Philippine-made electric jeepneys (e-jeep).

The development came on the heels of the approval of classification guidelines for the e-jeep by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) early this month. The guidelines, she stressed, will pave the way for the registration of e-jeeps as passenger utility vehicles (PUVs).

Officially classified by the LTO as a "low speed vehicle" (LSV), the e-jeep can run a maximum of 40 kilometers per hour, which is ideal for traffic congested city driving. The vehicle can seat twelve passengers at the back ("animan") and three in front including the driver.

The e-jeep runs entirely on electricity and can cover a maximum distance of 100 km to 120 km. on a single charge of eight hours. An e-jeep plying a regular 5-kilometer city route can run for at least three days on a single charge, which would cost a mere P110-P140.

"I look forward to the day when fleets of e-jeeps will be allowed to serve commuters and become the new kings of the road."

She encouraged local government units, industrial zones and subdivisions to look into using e-jeeps as a mode of mass transport in their areas. E-jeep units are currently in use in the cities of Bacolod, Makati, Baguio and Puerto Princesa.

The lady senator has personally promoted the e-jeep by using it as her official vehicle in her sports, health and environmental aw areness events in the provinces.