LTO issues new orange plates to E-Jeepneys

E-Jeepney project proponent GRIPP (Green Renewable Independent
Power Producer), and Greenpeace welcomed the move as a landmark in
greener Philippine transport. The orange plates are issued
specifically for electric vehicles, and its issuance by the LTO was
largely spurred by the E-Jeepney and the Climate Friendly Cities
Project–meant to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by cities–of
which it is part.

“The registration of the E-Jeepneys is much-awaited and smooths
the way for the full implementation of the Climate Friendly Cities
Project, particularly when we start scaling up E-Jeepney fleets
around the country.  The full-implementation of the project will
hopefully steer the Philippines–starting with pioneering
cities–away from harmful fossil fuels, and toward
climate-friendly, sustainable, renewable energy-based transport,”
said GRIPP Chair Athena Ballesteros.

The E-Jeepneys were launched last July 4, 2007 in Makati City as
part of a larger initiative that demonstrates how cities can help
mitigate the problem of climate change through implementing
measures that would avoid the use of climate change-inducing fossil
fuels.  Through the project, a fleet of electric-powered jeepneys
will derive energy from biodegradable wastes from the city’s wet
markets, food establishments and households, thereby helping
mitigate climate change even as it addresses urban problems such as
air pollution and solid waste.

The E-Jeepneys will now be registered under the new
classification ‘low speed vehicles’ (LSV) as set forth in the IRR
(implementing rules and regulations) of AO AHS-2008-14 ‘Guidelines
in the registration of LSVs.’ The orange plates are issued to
private LSVs.  Yellow plates and orange stickers will then be
issued to for-hire E-Jeepneys when the LTFRB (Land Transportation
and Franchising Regulatory Board) issues the permits which GRIPP
hopes to be processed soonest.

Four E-Jeepneys will be among the first to be issued the plates:
three units plying Makati, and one currently in UP Diliman.  They
will also be inspected by LTO’s Motor Vehicle Inspection Station
team.  These jeepeneys, however, are exempted from the agency’s
standard smoke emission testing procedures.

GRIPP believes the launch of the registration classification
will enable better access to E-Jeepneys, promoting its
acceptability to transport groups.  With current spiraling fossil
fuel prices, the E-Jeepneys stand to increase income levels of
jeepney drivers by at least PHP400 a day, without the respiratory
health hazards associated with conventional, frequently smoke
belching jeepeneys.  That’s aside from anticipated environmental
benefits, such as less air pollution and climate change
mitigation.

“The problem of global climate change and worsening air
pollution are a result of really bad environmental decisions made
in the past.  The E-Jeepneys represent the range of technologies
now made available for us to choose a cleaner, low carbon
development path.  Spiraling diesel and gasoline prices prove that
fossil fuels are not the energy choices for the future.  The
E-Jeepneys represent the revolution toward clean, renewable energy
alternatives that must be implemented now, and in a much larger
scale, by the national government,” said Greenpeace Executive
Director Von Hernandez.

The Climate Friendly Cities Project is sponsored in part by the
Dutch Doen Foundation and is currently supported by Makati,
Bacolod, Baguio, and Puerto Princesa Cities.