Iloilo City eyed as pilot for low-carbon transport systems

By: Gerome Dalipe

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) is eyeing Iloilo City as the pilot project site of the low carbon urban transport system.

The DOTr, in coordination with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), visited Mayor Jerry Treñas on Tuesday and briefed City Hall executives about the project overview.

Treñas acknowledged they need the help of urban planners to help the city traffic management office come up with sensible and practical solutions to the vehicular traffic especially during peak hours.

“Iloilo is growing very fast. So, whatever is needed we will support you,” Treñas said during the meeting.

Mario Tercero, the project manager, outlined to the mayor the proposed program aims at promoting sustainable system in the city.

In their campaign, the DOTr and UNDP outlined five main sources of the emissions in Iloilo City. These include stationary energy, electricity, transportation, waste, agriculture, and forestry.

Iloilo City was chosen as the pilot city for the program due to its rapid urbanization, such as traffic congestion, population, vehicle increase, air pollution, among others.

The project proponents also cited the city’s plans and programs on sustainable mobility, particularly on low carbon urban transport systems, and the officials’ political will towards adaptation of environment-friendly transport systems.

If chosen as the pilot city, the proponents said Iloilo City will become a recipient of capacity development program in implementing low carbon transport plans and programs such as transport modeling, and transport desirability mapping.

The City Government will likely avail of investment opportunity from private and public sectors as well as support in the installation of facilities like electric vehicles, and solar charging station from route rationalization study.

Since the program is still in the conceptualization stage, Tercero, the project manager, the UNDP-DOTr will start sending letters or information for potential local government units.

The project proponents will continue project presentations about the programs with the local chief executive and transport officials.

The UNDP-DOTr said they will continue to conduct awareness campaign and policy-support activities on investment promotion and support and public transport master plan activities.

The Land Transportation Office and the Land Franchising and Regulatory Board are also considered as partners of the low carbon transport system.