ABUCAY, Bataan — The first two passenger vehicles in Bataan powered by electricity (EVs) started Thursday, Feb. 1, giving free rides to the public.
This town serves as jump off point with the presence in the municipality near the public market of the first, also free, solar-powered charging station in the province.
From Abucay, the shuttle load and pick passengers going to the towns of Samal, Orani, Hermosa and Dinalupihan and go vice versa and to The Bunker, seat of the provincial government at the Capitol compound in Balanga City.
Ronald Allan Paule, one of the drivers, said so far there are only two EVs with capacity of 30 passengers each offering free ride in the province.
He said that the operation of the EVs is a project of Genpact Philippines, the Abucay municipal government led by Mayor Robin Tagle and the provincial government headed by Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia 3rd and Vice-Gov. Cris Garcia.
The governor announced the start of the “libreng pasada” after signing a memorandum of agreement with Genpact Philippines vice president Arnold Pagcaliwagan, Global Electric Transport – Get Philippines, Inc. managing director Anthony Dy and Tagle.
Genpact operates at the Vista Mall in Balanga City.
“Layon ng nasabing pampasaherong EVs na mabigyan ng libreng transportasyon ang ating mga kababayan lalo na ang mga may transakyon sa pamahalaan dahil ang mga babaan at sakayan nito ay sa mga piling munisipyo sa Bataan,” Gov. Garcia said.
“Bukod sa makatutulong sa pangangalaga sa ating kalikasan, ang paggamit ng EVs ay mas maginhawa, moderno at ligtas para sa mga pasahero. Hinihikayat naman po ang lahat na i-download ang GET Pass App dahil sa pamamagitan nito ay real-time na matutukoy ang lokasyon ng nasabing sasakyan maging ang oras ng dating nito sa mga pick-up points,” the governor added.
