Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Thursday said he will ban all old and dilapidated jeepneys plying the city’s streets and replaced them with electric jeepneys to reduce traffic and air pollution.
The mayor said traffic in Manila is getting worse because of old and smoke-belching public utility vehicles that run through the city’s major and inner roads.
Estrada said he wants to improve the quality of life of the riding public by putting up electric jeepneys on the streets of Manila.
“Our riding public is already suffering from these old and dilapidated jeepneys that emit heavy smoke, while scores of these old vehicles break down, causing traffic jams,” Estrada said.
He noted that several jeepney drivers always resort to “trip cutting” to the detriment of the riding public.
“That’s why I am pushing the modernization of public transport in Manila, despite the resistance of the jeepney drivers and operators,” the mayor said.
“These old vehicles are causing a lot of inconveniences to the public, but also a threat to their health and the environment,” Estrada said.
“I think this is the right time to push through with the plan of the city government to avail of the financial assistance of the [national] government for those who want to own and drive E-jeepneys,” he added.
The government initiative to put in newer, safer jeepneys on the street was introduced by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in 2015.
“Aside from being comfortable, [the new jeeps are] also environment-friendly,” he said.
The e-jeepneys will have low smoke emission, closed-circuit television cameras, dash board cameras, GPS and are person with disability (PWD) friendly.
Under the national plan, the driver can own an e-jeepney in four to five years just by paying P150 a day instead of the P800 to P1,000 daily “boundary system” used by jeepney operators.