The Philippine’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) just recently turned over 20 electric buses to Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) associations.
Aside from being fully electric, thus emitting zero tailpipe emissions, what makes these buses stand out is that they’re designed for commuting persons with disabilities (PWDs), and their operations will be managed by PWDs.
“20 new PWD-friendly e-buses that will initially run as corporate shuttles were deployed this morning,” said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian in his official Facebook official last June 27.
“These e-buses will serve as a safe public transport option for our PWDs. In addition, the revenues from the operations of these e-buses will also go to the PWD groups who are part of the SLP Association of the Department,” he said.
The initiative, under the SLP’s Persons with Disabilities-Electric Transportation Service (PWD-ETS) Project, is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to create more safe spaces and livelihood opportunities for PWDs.
Through the PWD-ETS Project, the DSWD provided livelihood grants to SLPAs composed entirely of PWDs to help them establish and manage their own electric transport service.
Each SLPA is composed of 115 members from 10 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila.
The turnover of the buses coincided with the 14th anniversary celebration of the SLP at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
Photos of Gatchalian engaging with beneficiaries under the SLPAs inspecting and testing the new electric buses were posted at the DSWD social media sites.
According to the DSWD, the initiative aims to empower PWDs by providing them with accessible vehicles they can operate as a source of sustainable livelihood and inclusive mobility.
DSWD SLP Division chief Marie Fe Leon told reporters during the June 26 DSWD media forum at the Central Office’s press center in Quezon City that PWD members of the SLPAs are directly responsible for operating and managing the e-buses, in close coordination with service provider Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines Inc.
In its website GET Philippines describes itself as a transport technology company that has created a complete transport ecosystem composed of Comet, a zero-emission 30-passenger fully electric mini bus developed by Formula e-racing engineers. It claims to have a fast charger network which allows Comet vehicles to operate on a near 24/7 basis. It also boasts of a smart app-based fleet management and fare collection system that improves customer experience and makes transport more intelligent and efficient.
The DSWD news release said that GET Philippines also extended financial assistance—half of the price of the e-buses—to the associations as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).
“Ngayon po ay corporate service siya pero ito pong 20 buses, ang ine-envision namin ay maging public transport siya so we are coordinating with agencies na pwedeng makatulong para maging public transport na ito (Now they are for corporate service, but we envision these 20 buses to become public transports, so we are coordinating with agencies who can help make them part of public transportation),” the SLP DC pointed out.
Nilo Delos Reyes, president of the Alliance of Persons with Disabilities (APWD) in Caloocan and one of the SLPA members who will receive the bus unit during the turnover, said the project will help the association sustain their livelihood and provide accessible transport services for fellow PWDs.
“Ito pong e-bus ay pangmatagalan talaga na programa ng DSWD. Bukas ay i-turnover na yung bus namin, naniniwala ako na mas malaking income ang makukuha namin. Kaya maraming-maraming salamat po sa ating secretary, Secretary Rex Gatchalian at sa pamunuan ng DSWD (This e-bus is truly part of a long-term program of the DSWD. Starting from the turnover of the e-bus to us tomorrow, I believe we will earn more income. Thank you so much to Secretary Gatchalian and the DSWD leadership),” Delos Reyes said.
(Photos by DSWD)