E-trike project bidding slated for April 14

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Energy has finally set the rebidding date for the electric tricycles (e-trike) project funded by the Asian Development Bank.

At stake is the supply and delivery of 3,000 units of energy efficient e-trikes.

The issuance of bid documents started on Feb. 26 and a pre-bidding conference will be held on March 11. Bids will be opened on April 14, according to the department.

Energy Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos said he was hoping investor interest would be high and that those who joined the first bidding would participate.

The first attempt to bid out the project in 2013 was discontinued due to the lack of off-takers, or beneficiaries. The government decided to expand the list of qualified beneficiaries, change the project mechanics and rebid the project.

The project, under the Market Transformation through the Introduction of Energy-Efficient Electric Vehicles Project, originally targeted as beneficiaries local government units (LGUs) nationwide.

There was strong interest in the project among the LGUs, but the problem was that many of them did not have the seal of good housekeeping from the Department of Interior and Local Government, a requirement imposed by e-trike fund administrator Land Bank of the Philippines.

The seal of good housekeeping recognizes LGUs with good performance in governance, local legislation, development planning, resource generation and allocation, and loan repayments.

The DOE has since expanded the project’s target beneficiaries to include cooperatives, state universities and colleges, tourism growth areas, subdivisions and villages and “industrial, commercial and residential enclaves.”

The e-trike project aims to promote sustainable transport, address the increasing carbon emissions in major cities, and reduce oil dependence of the local transport sector. The project also aims to transform the public tricycle sector and jump start a new industry in the transport sector.

Ten local government units, namely Mandaluyong, Tarlac, Javier in Leyte, San Pablo, Boracay, Batangas, Marikina, San Jose in Camarines Sur, Imus in Cavite and Calapan in Mindoro had expressed interest to participate in the government’s e-trike project by ordering a combined 3,000 units.

Target beneficiaries may avail themselves of e-trikes by tapping the ADB loan.