A faster, more sustainable form of livelihood now beckons to pedicab drivers in Sulat, Eastern Samar.
This, after they received free electric tricycles (e-trikes) under the E-trike Livelihood Support Program for the local government, providing them with a more sustainable and efficient source of livelihood.
The e-trikes were formally turned over to 28 pedicab drivers during the program’s blessing and launching on July 30, led by Sulat Mayor Javier Zacate.
The program aims to improve the income and working conditions of the beneficiaries by replacing manually operated pedicabs with modern, environment-friendly electric vehicles.
Manuel Assistio, president of the Sulat Pedicab Drivers Association, expressed gratitude to the local government for the assistance, saying the project would significantly improve their daily livelihood.
“We are grateful for this opportunity to help improve our source of income,” Assistio said, adding that the e-trikes would allow drivers to earn more while reducing the physical strain of manually pedaling traditional pedicabs.
Mayor Zacate reminded the beneficiaries to take good care of the e-trikes, emphasizing that the units are intended to provide long-term livelihood for their families. He also shared the local government’s plan to install solar panels on the roof of each e-trike to help power the units and reduce charging costs.
To ensure uninterrupted operations, especially during prolonged rainy weather, the mayor said the municipality also plans to establish a charging station within the municipal plaza where drivers can recharge their e-trikes when solar charging is insufficient.
Zacate also clarified that the e-trikes will operate only within the poblacion area and will not be allowed to traverse the national highway to ensure the safety of both drivers and passengers.
Meanwhile, Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent ‘RV’ Evardone committed additional funding from the provincial government to procure more e-trikes, allowing more pedicab drivers in Sulat to benefit from the livelihood program.
The initiative supports the municipality’s efforts to promote sustainable transportation while improving the economic opportunities of local transport workers.
(With report from PIA)
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