- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod Tuesday authorized Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez to sign the memorandum of understanding with China firm Jiangsu Fengchuen New Energy Power Technology Co. Ltd. on the establishment of an e-jeepney assembly plant in the city to boost local economic growth.
In the special session presided over by Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and attended by 10 SP members yesterday afternoon, Feb. 21, they approved a resolution granting authority to Benitez to sign the MOU with company chairman Li Longde, who was present at the SP Session Hall.
Under the MOU, both the city government and Jiangsu Fengchuen New Energy Power Technology Co. Ltd. agreed to support the establishment of an e-jeepney assembly plant, and the building “of a modern industrial park with key technologies and components of electric vehicles centering on the e-jeepney assembly plant in Bacolod”.
The company will bring in a sample e-jeep and a team of support engineers this year to allow jeepney operators “to experience the actual model and test it out”, while Bacolod will assist the Chinese firm or any other government agencies in “making available the five existing unoperated routes of e-jeepney with first 300 e-jeeps, and formulate an e-jeepney outreach program and EV (electric vehicle) charging station construction plans for every stage”.
Councilor Al Victor Espino told his colleagues that the first rollout of units shipped from China will happen next month.
“Bacolod will become the first city example of green public transport in the Philippines, and considering the economic impact through the creation of job employment and investments, the local government fully supports the initiative of the company in the construction of an e-jeepney plant and its operation in the City,” the MOU states.
Jiangsu Fengchuen New Energy Power Technology’s proposal to invest US$200 million, or about P10 billion, for an EV plant in Bacolod came following an initial meeting with Benitez during his trip to China last month as part of the delegation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Executives of the company, a manufacturer of new energy commercial vehicles and ancillary products based in Jiangsu, China, arrived in Bacolod early this month for due diligence, or the risk and compliance check, verification, and assessment of an investment prospect.
Atty. Romeo Carlos Ting Jr., in a legal opinion, said the MOU on the strategic partnership between Bacolod and Jiangsu Fengchuen to demonstrate and introduce e-jeepney and the assembly plant is beneficial to the city and its constituents, and the City Legal Office has no objection provided that an authority to sign is obtained from the SP.
Councilor Em Legaspi Ang said any document that would show proof that chairman Li Longde is authorized to sign for and in behalf of the company should be attached, prior to the MOU ratification by the SP./CGC
