It's a dream that started about five years ago. While walking down the streets of Bangkok and Manila, Sven and Femke, both veteran energy campaigners from GP Germany and Netherlands, and I dreamed of an electric tuktuk for Thailand, and an electric jeepney for the Philippines. The tuktuk is a motorized three-wheeler passenger vehicle which has become a national symbol of Thailand.

The idea of an electric vehicle is to revolutionize some of the most iconic public transportation vehicles in the mega cities of Asia by powering them with electricity from renewable energy. We, of course, wanted to do it first in Negros, a province in the Philippines which made history by knocking off a coal plant via community-led sustained opposition that later catapulted the campaign for a 100 percent clean energy province.

Last Friday, our dream came true in Bacolod when we launched 3 E-Jeepneys in the city, nine days after they were introduced on the streets of Metro Manila. It was, indeed, a magical moment. In the capital city, people from all walks of life gathered with much excitement and enthusiasm as they watched the first two of the electric jeepneys took off on the streets of the country's economic hub, Makati City.

Calling the E-Jeepney an avenue for those with entrepreneurial skills to explore, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said "it is heartening that Bacolod has been chosen as a pilot area and will hold the distinction of being the first city outside MetroManila where the E-Jeepneys will be introduced'.

The E-Jeepney is inspired by the original Philippine PUJ, which has become a Philippine cultural icon. The flamboyantly-designed jeepney was first manufactured by World War II mechanics from leftover vehicles of American troops. The jeeps were then refurbished to accommodate several passengers, added metal roof for shade and decorated with vibrant colors and bright ornaments making them popular and creative public transportation vehicles. But while it provides one of the cheapest means of commuting, the diesel-guzzlers are notorious air pollutants, posing a health risk for drivers and commuters. The fuel use of a 16-passenger jeepney , for example, is almost equal to that of a 54-passenger air-conditioned bus. With major roads clogged by empty jeepneys cruising for fares, there is a threat to sideline the jeeps from the streets of Metro Manila and other cities.

Together with partner organizations from GRIPP, or the Green Renewable Independent Power Producer Project, Inc. consortium, we launched the Climate-Friendly Cities Project in Makati on July 4 and in Bacolod on July 13. The project seeks to address the problems of climate change, urban air pollution and waste management in major cities in the country. The fleet of electric jeepneys will grow from a pilot set of six to 50. The jeepneys will run on batteries that will be charged by a power plant fueled by biogas. The biogas will be generated from an HSAD, or high solid anaerobic digester, using a feedstock of organic waste collected from the commercial food establishments and wet markets of the city. The jeepneys will then go to an electric depot - an 'alternative to the gas station' - where their batteries will be recharged overnight for at least a period of eight hours. The Climate-Friendly Cities Project is, in part, supported by DOEN Foundation, a Dutch organization, which finances initiatives that are both enterprising and sustainable through subsidies, loans, guarantees or participations in the areas of Sustainable Development, Culture and Welfare. The foundation believes sustainability and innovation are of paramount importance and supports both small and large projects, programs and organizations. It strongly emphasizes self-activation and independence of the people and organizations steering the initiatives.

For cities like Makati and Bacolod, the environmental, economic, health and social benefits of being the pilot sites are manifold - from reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, like carbon dioxide and methane and of air pollutants to containment of leachate that contaminate ground water aquifers and waterways, the treatment of organic waste of its pathogenic and toxic materials; and improved local air, health and safety. In short, it would help bring about cleaner air, better waste management, a healthier population and, most importantly, a significant contribution to curbing dangerous climate change.

While the fleet of the electric jeepneys, which were built in China, is a first in Southeast Asia, each of the project components already exists as individual initiatives in many countries. There are electric buses in Nepal, biogas digesters in many parts of Asia and community charging stations for solar systems in off-grid communities. The 'magic' of the project lies in the integration of a cohesive package of cleaner, safer, renewable energy options. It is a concrete embodiment of our energy revolution vision.

The transport sector will soon constitute more than 30 percent of the global GHG emissions by 2025, hence this small step, if replicated and scaled up, could make a significant contribution to avoiding emissions from fossil fuelled vehicles, thus the iconic jeepney will remain in our streets, but without wasteful and carbon emitting diesel.

More importantly, the electric jeepneys will provide increased incomes to vehicles' drivers. The gross amount of fares that a driver collects in a day is roughly P1,800 to P2,000 pesos. From that, he spends at least P800 pesos to purchase diesel and an average of P400-P500 as hire payments to the jeepney owner or operator. On a good day, he returns home with P240. On a bad day, he may end up owing. With the electric jeepneys, the net take home pay of the drivers is expected to increase two to three times by reducing their expenses on fuel. It also intends to demonstrate to operators that electric jeepneys are a viable investment because reduced maintenance costs increase financial returns.

We have commenced a series of pilot testing activities to ensure the technical, commercial, environmental and social feasibility of the project. If the project is successful, it will be replicated in other cities in the country and in other Asian capitals so as to truly contribute significantly to global GHG reductions. As Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay reiterated at the Makati launch: "I believe the electric jeepney is an innovative way of addressing two major concerns of cities - pollution and waste management" as he emphasized that the city is moving toward the direction of creating a business climate that gives priority to clean air and quality of life along with attractive tax rates, infrastructure and incentives.

"If we can further improve the air quality in the country's financial district, then we are literally improving the climate for business and more business translates into more revenues to fund our programs and innovations in education, health care and social services."

Mayor Leonardia, on the eve of the launch, said, "the coming of the E-Jeepneys will project the image that our city is open to new ideas and there is dynamism in the economy that caters to the innovation that will further enhance Bacolod's image as the Most Business-Friendly City in the Visayas.

Other cities can learn from the experience of Makati and Bacolod so that the, too, can become "climate-friendly cities". The electric jeepneys represent triple wins in one package: It's a win for the local environment, a win for the climate and a win for the local economy.

The writer, a climate campaigner, is the founder and board chair of the Green Renewable Independent Power Producer Project, Inc.