The city government has launched a dry run for another eco-friendly transport initiative, introducing an exclusive electric jeepney (e-jeep) route as a sustainable alternative to traditional public transportation.

The experimental route, which starts from the Bacolod City Government Center to Ayala Malls Capitol Central across the Negros Occidental capitol, runs between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. until Feb. 16.

“Libre sakay” (free transportation) is offered during the dry run.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Bacolod could become the first city in the Philippines to fully implement green routes for public transport, pending approval from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

“It’s very promising. We’re also looking at all the safety nets,” he said in an earlier interview.

In May last year, the city government first conducted the dry run for the green routes covering areas in Barangay Vista Alegre in the eastern part and Barangay Cabug in the south.

The three proposed green routes are not included in the city’s Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) under the Public Transport Modernization Program.

The results of the dry run will determine if the routes will be added to the LPTRP, the city government said.

Since October last year, the Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative, owner-operator of the modernized People’s Jeep, has been operating several units of China-made e-jeeps for the Fortune Towne-Central Market loop.

The units are supplied by Chinese-Korean electric vehicle company e-Future Motors Philippines.

“Our operators can really save on cost by using e-jeep. At the same time, it is environment-friendly,” Robert Cerrada, chief operating officer of e-Future Motors, said. (PNA)