IN PHOTOS: Justin Trudeau inspects PWD-friendly e-jeepney

Mara Cepeda

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IN PHOTOS: Justin Trudeau inspects PWD-friendly e-jeepney

Maria Salvador Tan

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also meets National Council on Disability Affairs Executive Director Carmen Zubiaga and Philippine Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade during the inspection

MANILA, Philippines – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau inspected the latest model of the City Optimized Managed Electric Transport (COMET), which now includes a ramp allowing easier entry for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Trudeau checked out the COMET 3 electric jeepney parked in front of The Peninsula Manila hotel on Monday, November 13. The world leader is currently in Manila to participate in the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.

He was joined by Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines John Holmes, Philippine Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, and representatives from the Canadian and Filipino companies who manufactured the e-jeepney.

Trudeau also met National Council on Disability Affairs Executive Director Carmen Zubiaga, who tried the e-jeepney’s PWD ramp herself.

The COMET 3 is the product of Valsch Dynamic Mechatronics, a Canadian design and engineering team based in Vancouver, and Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines, a Filipino innovative mobility solution company. 

Prototype models of the COMET e-jeepneys were first launched in Quezon City in 2014. Now, GET Philippines and Valsch are eyeing to mass produce in 2018 and send out some 5,000 e-jeepneys to Philippine roads by 2020.  

Last year, Trudeau told the United Nations Assembly in New York City that prosperous countries like Canada must act quickly to help curb carbon pollution.

But early this year, when the Canadian leader faced oil and gas executives in Texas, he announced his support for pipeline projects linking Alberta’s oil sands to British Columbia and the United States Midwest. (READ: 4 hard truths about Justin Trudeau)

“No country would find 173 billion barrels of oil in the ground and just leave them there,” said Trudeau. – Rappler.com

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.