Cebu targets 50 electric buses deployment by July

Local

CEBU Province is accelerating its shift to electric public transport, with officials preparing a large-scale rollout of electric buses to address rising energy costs and improve mobility across the province, including its island communities.

Provincial Administrator Ace Durano said the province is targeting the initial deployment of around 50 electric buses by July.

This is part of a national government-backed program led by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Trade and Industry in partnership with Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines.

“Actually, kanang gesugdan nani’g roll-out, its actually a program of DOTr and DTI,” Durano said in an interview on Tuesday, April 21.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro, Durano, and key provincial officials recently met with GET Philippines executives in Manila, led by President Freddie Tinga, to align plans for the rollout.

Discussions focused on tackling energy challenges while transforming Cebu’s transport system into a more sustainable and efficient network.

Durano said the push for electric buses comes as traditional diesel-powered public transport faces mounting operational costs, with fuel expenses reaching about P50 per kilometer.

Electric buses, in contrast, cost around P5 per kilometer to operate, offering a more viable long-term solution for transport operators.

Under the program, each electric bus costs about P4.5 million.

The manufacturer will shoulder half of the cost, while the remaining half will be financed through loans facilitated by the DTI for transport cooperatives.

Durano said the setup removes the need for upfront capital from cooperatives and allows repayment based on actual operations.

“Ang kaning transport coop wagyud cash out… wagyud sila’y cash out. So they will just pay base sa ila ang operation,” he said.

The provincial government will not purchase the buses but will focus on route planning and deployment using data from commuter movement across cities and municipalities.

Initial routes identified for the rollout include Naga City to the South Bus Terminal and from the North Bus Terminal to Danao City.

Planning efforts also aim to expand connectivity to island destinations such as Camotes and Bantayan, with officials noting the potential to boost tourism and improve access to remote areas.

Durano said about 50 accredited transport cooperatives in the province may participate in the program on a voluntary basis.

Participating cooperatives will operate the buses and assume the loan, while the manufacturer will handle maintenance, install charging stations, and receive a share of revenues to ensure sustainability of operations.

He added that charging infrastructure is already being put in place, and the system will include a mobile application that allows commuters to track bus locations and pay fares online, improving convenience and predictability of travel.

Durano emphasized that the rollout will not increase the number of vehicles on the road, as electric buses will replace existing traditional units that have become too costly to operate.

“What we are doing is we will be replacing existing vehicles on the road. Di ta magpuno,” he said.

The Provincial Planning and Development Office is preparing technical studies and a letter of intent for submission to national agencies as part of the next steps in the rollout.

The provincial government aims to begin initial deployment by July, with broader implementation targeted before September as Cebu transitions toward a more sustainable public transportation system.(MyTVCebu)