Blogging Miles Around the Metro

That would be cool. Imagine adding that to your roster of public transportation, Dev (where are youuuuu?)! It would be rather tricky to implement though, given the already established diesel-powered jeepneys, and the huge role they play in keeping households economically afloat. And how would this affect commuters? Would rates be more expensive? This would definitely call for a massive education campaign, not just on clean air, but on economic alternatives, and social responsibility transcending economic strata.

E-jeeps Proponents decry lack of enthusiasm for clean energy projects

Representatives of Green Renewable Independent Power Producer Inc. (GRIPP) and Solar-Generation Youth yesterday challenged local officials of Bacolod led by Mayor Bing Leonardia to fast-track support for a pioneering effort to introduce electric jeepneys in the city under a project called “Climate Friendly Cities”.

“We are calling on all Bacolod officials to step up and join the millions of voices around the world demanding climate action. Bacolod can show the way towards sustainability and development based on clean energy. Will you choose to lead or remain passive observers?” said Athena Ballesteros, Chairperson of the GRIPP Board and Greenpeace International’s Climate and Energy campaigner.

The Climate Friendly Cities project, the first of its kind in the Philippines and in the Asian region, is an integrated approach to solving urban environmental problems while creating innovative solutions for mitigating climate change through a range of cutting-edge technologies. The project will begin full operations with a fleet of 50 electric jeepneys within a 3 year period. A pilot fleet of six (6) electric jeepneys will be launched at the national level on May 9-10, 2007 and in Bacolod on May 10 and 11. The jeepneys will run on batteries that will be charged by a power plant fueled by biogas. The biogas will be generated from a high solid anaerobic digester (HSAD) using a feedstock of organic waste collected from the commercial food establishments and wet markets of the City.

GRIPP Inc., the project’s proponent, is a consortium of private sector and non-government organizations working towards making Negros a renewable energy reserve. The goal of the project is to introduce an alternative to the local, diesel-based, small public transport system that will not only reduce air pollution, carbon emissions and the solid waste stream but will also provide enhanced incomes to the drivers of these vehicles.

Mayor Leonardia was presented with a youth declaration entitled: “Our Climate, Our City, Our Challenge” as well as a draft Memorandum Of Agreement between the city and GRIPP.

“We decided to confront Mayor Bing in a creative way to enlist his unequivocal support to the Climate Friendly Cities project. We have been working with GRIPP to make this project a reality, and despite their efforts at securing a resolution from the City Council or MOA from the office of the Mayor, GRIPP has received no written support from the city and no concrete measures to provide the counterpart services and resources to make this pilot project a success”, said Karla de Guia, one of the volunteers of SolarGeneration Negros who presented the declaration.

Mayor Leonardia has promised GRIPP and SolarGeneration that he will fast-track the drafting of the MOA with the proponents. “We don’t want empty words, we demand real action. We hope you will honor this commitment”, added de Guia.

“GRIPP has been meeting with local officials for almost 2 years now, exploring ways to secure firm commitments that will demonstrate the city’s ownership of this project. Our team has done much to make this a highly exciting pilot for Bacolod. We chose Bacolod as it is the provincial capital of Negros Occidental, declared by the national government as the first ever province whose development shall be powered by renewable energy and home of the 100% Mabuhay Renewable Energy Negros Campaign. We remain hopeful that the city council and the city leaders would lead the way without wasting any more time,” said Reina Garcia, GRIPP Coordinator based in Negros.

GRIPP led the development of the project together with partner organizations such as Greenpeace and Solar Electric Co. It has successfully secured funding for the initial fleet of 50 electric jeeps. “We have been providing technical, financial, human resource support for this project since 2005. We have worked intensively to develop this project so we can pilot this in Bacolod. Now, it is being handed to the city on a silver plate. All the city has to do is deliver the required counterpart services,” added Ballesteros.

Since the project strongly adheres to the principles of sustainability in public-private partnerships, the host city is required to commit to certain services and resources to demonstrate co-ownership and long-term commitment to the success of the project. These include the: (1) land as site for the bio-gas plant and depot; (2) services for the collection of purely organic and biodegradable waste; and (3) routes for the test period of the e-jeeps and assistance in identifying the best route for its commercial operations.

GRIPP representatives earlier asked the City Council to introduce a resolution endorsing the implementation of the project in support of earlier Resolution 648-A. However the council informed GRIPP that a MOA is required prior to the resolution being adopted by the Sanggunian.GRIPP then worked on the MOA with Mayor Bing but later were told that the Sanggunian needs to authorize the Mayor to sign the MOA on behalf of the City of Bacolod.

“I hope we are not given the usual bureaucratic roundabout here. This is a golden opportunity for the city to lead the way so that other cities are able to meet their twin goals of climate mitigation and sustainable transport while generating employment opportunities. While other cities have offered to embrace this project without hesitation, Bacolod chooses to be a fence sitter. This project in fact should form the backbone of the political agenda of officials and candidates who are running for public office, “added Ballesteros.

“It is sad that urgent environmental issues and proposed solutions take a back seat to intrigue and political controversies. This is a wake-up call to all local officials: candidates, incumbent and those running for new posts. If your platform is based on a program such as this: a program that combines the goals of climate change mitigation, cleaner air and sustainable transport then you will definitely win the hearts and minds of voters,” stressed Ballesteros.

For more information, contact:

Athena Ballesteros, Greenpeace International Campaigner and GRIPP Chair: 0917-8131562<
Reina Garcia, GRIPP Coordinator: 434-9269; 0917-3001585 (mobile)
Albert Lozada, SolarGeneration Youth Coordinator: 0917-3016684 (mobile)
or visit solargenerationyouth.multiply.com

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