MANILA, Philippines – In an effort to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles roaming around the city, the Makati City government launched the third route for its e-jeepney program on July 12.

The new route, named as the “Makati Heritage Route,” is the third one to be launched by the city government after it launched its e-jeepney program in 2009. Five new rechargable e-jeepneys were also allotted for the new route.

The route will be added to the existing routes in Makati: the Legaspi Village Loop and Salcedo Village Loop.

The route covers around 5 kilometers and goes around Barangay Poblacion from City Hall where many ancestral houses are located, the Museo ng Makati, Poblacion Park, Pio Del Pilar High School, then all the way through the Power Plant Mall toward Estrella Street and on to EDSA.

Each e-jeepney can travel up to 150 kilometers and can be charged to full for 6 hours. It can carry up to 15 passengers.

Makati has now a total of 14 e-jeepneys, each priced at P700,000.

Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. said Makati’s e-jeepney program aims to show that a city from a developing country like the Philippines can still adopt the building of infrastructures and transportation systems aligned with the changing climate.

"As developing countries like the Philippines continue to face the so-called triple crises facing the economy, energy and the environment, cities like Makati can show the way and lead local government efforts at building climate resilient infrastructure and development of sustainable transportation programs," said Binay in a statement.

Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities Executive Director Red Constantino also added that the role being played by cities, which consume over two-thirds of the world’s energy and are responsible for over 70% of global CO2 emissions, in averting climate change is very important.

"Cities are uniquely positioned to lead global efforts to address climate change. Makati demonstrates the kind of bold leadership necessary for cities and municipalities to abandon business-as-usual, carbon-intensive energy and waste management practices. Cities with visionary leaders are poised to leapfrog towards resilient and low carbon development,” he said.

"Despite the lack of progress in the emissions reduction commitments of developed countries, developing countries like the Philippines continue to adopt win-win policies to avert climate change,” he added. - With a report from Dennis Datu, dzMM