A new way of traversing the vast expanse of University of the Philippines’ Los Baños, Laguna campus was recently launched, with the goal of sustainable transportation inside the campus.
Known as eLBeep or Electric Light Bus for the Environment and Economy Partnership, the solar-powered electric microbus will transport students and the public along two key routes in-campus: the UPLB Loop and UPLB-UPRHS-Juvileeville route in the nearby town of Bay.
The eLBeep was a product of extensive coordination between UPLB, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Drivers at Operators ng Los Baños (SNODLOB), UP Rural High School and the local government of Los Baños.
It is not just a part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of the national government, but is also part of the university’s Green Mobility Initiative (GMI) which aims to foster a green academic community and promote an alternative mode of transportation aligned with UPLB’s future-proofing goal.
“This is what we are talking about, concrete action. At our level, this is the concrete action for sustainability because we are marching towards a green transport mode for our transport system,” UPLB Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Roberto Cereno said.
He added additional eLBeep units will be deployed to accommodate more commuting students and passengers.
The microbuses will complement UPLB’s current fleet of Tipaklong e-bikes and e-scooters that are currently in use for campus hopping.
During the eLBeep launch, Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert Borje emphasized the need for climate action to address global environmental challenges.
He acknowledged UPLB’s excellence in contributing to solutions to these challenges through science and research.
“Climate change is the governance challenge of our generation, and to address this, we need entire communities to work together, but the heart of it all is the science. We know that UPLB is not only a center of academic freedom but also of academic excellence, with a strong focus on science, research, and development,” he added.
(With report from PNA/OpinYon News Team)
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