The Viability of Electric Jeepneys as an Alternative Means of Transportation in Iloilo City

The Viability of Electric Jeepneys as an Alternative Means of Transportation in Iloilo City

Mark David B. Dacula

ABSTRACT

Recent environmental conditions in the Philippines such as abrupt heavy rainfall and scorching heat from the sun manifest that we have an environmental problem that needs to be addressed quickly. The atypical and sudden shift in the weather is an evidence of climate change or the change in global or regional climate patterns attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by fossil fuels. This is a severe problem that the government has been trying to solve through legislating anti-pollution and waste management policies. One of the major causes of this phenomenon is air pollution especially in metro cities in the country.

The study will center on the viability of electric jeepneys as an alternative means of transportation in Iloilo City. The city has over 68,000 registered vehicles according to Land Transportation Office Region VI. With the increasing number of vehicles, the carbon dioxide emissions will also rocket. This will exacerbate the air pollution that the city is currently experiencing. The shift to electric jeepneys or E-jeepneys from the traditional jeepneys will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions because of the use batteries as alternative source of energy to run a jeepney instead of the use of fuel.

Considering that there are already numerous researches and studies about the environmental benefits of electric jeepneys, the study seeks to discuss another aspect of the concept to add a new contribution. It is notable that jeepney drivers and operators are reluctant to change because they lack knowledge as to how they will effectively manage the project. Therefore, the study focuses on the management model that the Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association should adopt in order to cope up with the shift from traditional jeepneys to E-jeepneys. The management model encompasses the financing, operations and legal framework necessary for the use of E-jeepneys. The financing includes feasibility and availability of external funding. The operation management includes the processes regarding the ownership of the E-jeepneys and the maintenance of it. The legal framework includes the existing government policies supporting E-jeepneys and the incentives to the drivers and operators to use it. The study aims to approach the concept of E-jeepneys in the lens of the jeepney drivers and operators. The scope of the study also encompasses the economic benefits to the drivers such as the increase in their income and their social acceptance to this change.