Naga City, Philippines – The Sarao–Tembo Electric Jeepney Modernization Project has moved forward after a series of engagements in Naga City and across the Bicol Region from 4–7 August, bringing together local officials, transport groups and regional stakeholders to assess the introduction of electric jeepneys into public transport.

At the centre of the visit was a demonstration of the Sarao–Tembo Electric Jeepney for members of the Naga City Council, who were given the opportunity to experience the vehicle and offer feedback on practical considerations such as passenger safety, accessibility and comfort. Suggestions focused on refinements to seating layout, entry access and visibility, underscoring the emphasis on adapting the design to local operating conditions.

City officials, including Mayor Maria Leonor Robredo, signalled support for the initiative and discussed possible pathways for moving the project forward. Attention was also given to financing structures, with discussions exploring how participation from transport cooperatives could be supported through existing public and private lending channels.

Beyond vehicle development, the talks broadened to the infrastructure required for electric mobility at scale. The city has asked the project team to outline its anticipated operational needs, including energy supply and depot requirements, as it begins to assess longer-term readiness for deployment.

Transport cooperatives participating in the programme expressed interest in the platform, while also highlighting the importance of meeting regulatory and documentary requirements tied to the country’s broader transport modernisation framework. These processes remain central to determining eligibility for public support mechanisms, and will shape the pace at which adoption can proceed.

The visit also surfaced potential applications beyond traditional passenger transport. In Albay, discussions explored the use of an electric vehicle platform to support healthcare services linked to a dialysis facility, while another concept in Camalig considered a mobile retail initiative designed to promote local products and tourism-linked commerce.

Taken together, the engagements reflect growing interest in how electric mobility could extend beyond urban transport into wider economic and social uses across the region.

The Sarao–Tembo partnership continues to position its work at the intersection of heritage and electrification, seeking to adapt one of the country’s most recognisable transport icons for a lower-emission future.

Electric on the inside. Timeless on the outside.