With the Department of the Interior and Local Government rejecting Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto's request to allow tricycle service around the locale, telling him to be "more creative," Pasig City was quick to respond with zero-emission shuttles to offer "libreng sakay" to health frontliners and city personnel.
The city, in partnership with Global Electric Transport, will provide two COMET electric vehicles that will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a designated route. COMETs will proceed from Pasig City Hall to Sheridan, and then pass by Rizal Medical Center and back to Pasig City proper, the main city hall, and Pinagbuhatan.
These "zero-emission vehicles" don't "release any of the harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases that a typical diesel engine would, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or particulate matter," Kylie Tinga, sustainable transport specialist of Global Electric Transport (GET), told SPIN Life.
The private company has offered a complete service team with drivers, free of charge, to Pasig City.
Following the social distancing protocol, each ride can accommodate 10 passengers onboard at any given time. (In non-emergency use, it has a maximum capacity of 20 seated and 10 standing passengers.) Tinga explained that every shuttle is disinfected and properly sanitized, as per Pasig City government standards.
"The driver and conductor of each trip keep a vigilant tally of the number of people onboard at any given time, and the seats have been marked to indicate the appropriate distance passengers must keep from each other," added Tinga.
Meanwhile, the city of Manila has also deployed a network of 189 e-trikes for medical personnel. Here's hoping more cities are allowed to help their people!
this strange new world.