The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) launched on Friday a new electric vehicle shuttle service going to the SM Mall of Asia complex in Pasay. 

The shuttle service has 10 designated drop-off points that would cater to thousands of mallgoers, students, office workers, and even condominium residents in need of a last-mile transport option.

 The stops are as follows:

- SMX/NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

- SM MOA SOUTH WING

- SM MOA NORTH WING

- TWO E-COM CENTER

- FOUR E-COM CENTER

- SM RETAIL HQ/SHORE RESIDENCES BLDG. C

- SHORE 3 RESIDENCES

- SHELL RESIDENCES

- SM MOA GLOBE

- SEA RESIDENCES

The electric mini bus used for the shuttle service has a capacity of 30 passengers. It is also equipped with air conditioning, wifi, CCTV, and an access ramp for Persons with Disabilities.

The fare costs P25, and payments are made via the QR code on the Get Pass mobile app.

The app also provides real-time vehicle tracking, trip schedules, and route information.

“Yun ang gusto nating i-establish— mas reliable yung service para yung pasahero merong peace of mind, less anxiety sa kanila kasi there is a schedule to be maintained… Hindi siya magsa-stop kung saan-saan like a traditional jeepney,” said PITX President Jaime Feliciano.

Currently, only three units are plying the route from 7 am to 7 pm with an interval of 30 minutes.

“Kung maganda yung labas ng traffic, hopefully in the next six months we can start adding (units and trips) kasi may clamor,” said Feliciano.

Aside from the comfort it provides to passengers, electric vehicles are also better for the environment.

Manufacturer GET Philippines said a single COMET e-mini bus saves 30,000 liters worth of diesel in a year.

Carbon dioxide emissions are also reduced by 40,000 kilograms or 40 metric tons which is equivalent to the CO2 absorption of 700 trees, it added.

The company also assured the riding public that the EV shuttle will not run out of power while in the middle of the road.

“Ang kagandahan sa scheduled na ruta, may oras na tatakbo sila at may oras din sila para magkarga. So at any time, hindi sila mauubusan ng kuryente,” said COMET Vice President Francisco Endriga.

If successful, the PITX said it would also expand the electrification initiative to other projects of its parent company, Megawide Construction Corporation, such as the Cavite Bus Rapid Transit system which is set for partial operations in the fourth quarter of 2025.

“We’ll be starting initial operations using diesel buses but eventually we want to transition hopefully in a span of two years to electric buses as well,” said Feliciano, citing benefits to the environment and cheaper operational costs.