The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced they would be donating 200 electric tricycles for shuttered resort island Boracay, which is scheduled to reopen on October 26.

EV Wealth Inc., the e-trike supplier, said the units would be distributed for free.

According to the company’s general manager, Jerry Esquivel, operators will also save on fuel costs by switching to electric models.

“If the drivers are spending P400 for gasoline daily, with the e-trikes, they will only spend P200 for electricity,” he explained.

The municipality of Malay, which has jurisdiction over the tourist destination, earlier announced plans to completely phase out gasoline-powered tricycles.

The town also earlier passed Municipal Ordinance No. 386, which bans the use of single-use plastic items on the island.

Following a study conducted by the Boracay Inter-agency Task Force, a dry run for the island’s reopening will take place from October 15 to 25./WDJ