PUJs, trike major pollutants: APEC
But Mandaue Mayor Quisumbing says phaseout not viable, to look for more options
PASSENGER jeepneys and tricycles are the most important mode of transportation in Mandaue City, but technical experts of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) found out that these are the major pollution emitters in the city.
They recommended that “these should be phased out over time in favor of low emission options.”
For his part, City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing said that it might be difficult to eliminate jeepneys and tricycles considering that these have been part of the Filipino culture and are being used not only in Mandaue.
During the APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting last October 2015, Mandaue was chosen for the Low Carbon Model Towns (LCMT) project, which entitled the City Government to a study grant to determine policy program measures and realize its targets for green technologies opportunities.
Study
The technical experts from the Asia-Pacific Energy Research Center (APERC) in connection with Apec’s LCMT project conducted a study and reviewed the policies of Mandaue.
According to the City Public Information Office, the APERC team went to the Butuanon River, the landfill in Umapad and some industrial establishments.
The team presented its findings and recommendations to Quisumbing, Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna and some of the department heads at the Mandaue City Session Hall last Friday.
The mayor thanked the Apec for the in-depth study that they have made for the City of Mandaue. “You know these are experts from their field from all over the world who have come here to help make Mandaue City a better place for us and for our future generations,” said Quisumbing.
Prof. Jimin Zhao of Hong Kong, who presented her findings and recommendations on transportation, said the transport sector is the largest contributor of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, accounting for nearly half of the total CO2 in the city in 2015.
Last October, the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue recorded 400,000 vehicles, including motorcycles and jeepneys that pass Mandaue daily based on their count using the closed-circuit television cameras installed in the different parts of the City.
New Ports
Zhao also observed that roads in the city are heavily congested during peak hours and that Mandaue has a large amount of through-traffic with different origins and destinations outside the city.
She said the demand for new ports will significantly increase through traffic.
Among Zhao’s recommendations were the reduction in the use of motor vehicles by having public transit systems, including bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, and promoting low-emission vehicles just like electronic bicycles, e-tricycles and e-jeepneys.
She also recommended to promote the shift to non-motorized transport like walking, biking and as well as, the putting up walkways and paths for pedestrians and cyclists.
“Mandaue will need to work with other LGUs (local government units) to provide a coordinated transport solution,” Zhao said.
While it will be difficult to phase out jeepneys and tricycles, Quisumbing said they can explore other mitigation measures.
“Like I said at this point it may not be as viable to do it right now. Eventually, we can look into other options. But since the tricycles, jeepneys, etc. are part of our culture, we also have to find a way to keep them because they are part of the Filipino culture. They can be found all over the country,” Quisumbing said.
Mandaue previously made markings intended for the bike lane last year, but this was not realized.
Quisumbing said they may push through with the implementation of this in some key areas.
One of the City’s challenges is the narrow roads that can hardly accommodate the amount of vehicles that pass daily in Mandaue.
Option
“We have to explore first our option for decongesting the traffic and decreasing the volume of cars on the road,” the mayor added.
Aside from the City’s transportation concern, the APERC team also presented their findings and recommendations for legal and institutional frameworks, sustainable urban planning, low carbon building, area energy management systems, energy efficiency, renewable en- ergy and untapped energy planning, environmental planning and others.
Dr. Kazumoto Irie of APERC said the City Government, City Planning and Development Office, and City Environment and Natural Resources Office have been involved in its low-carbon development plan.
“In its low-carbon development planning, cooperation with private sector such as public private partnership is to be pursued,” a part of his presentation read.
Among Irie’s recommendations were to involve private business and local residents in the low carbon development planning and coordinate with the other LGUs through the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board mechanism.