The Energy Department is seeking an investigation on the electric vehicle project launched by the Aquino administration.
The Market Transformation through Introduction of Energy-Efficient Electric Vehicles Project sought to roll out 100,000 units of electric tricycles funded from a loan from the Asian Development Bank.
“We want to investigate how the entire e-Trike process, and learn from it. What really happened?” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.
Cusi formed a team to conduct the probe together with representatives from other agencies such as the National Economic Development Authority and the Finance Department.
Cusi cancelled part of the ADB funding, scaling it down to P1.73 billion covering 3,000 units from the original project cost of P21.672 billion which was supposed to cover 100,000 e-trike units.
Cusi questioned the cost of the e-trike estimated at around P450,000 per unit, which he called exorbitant.
The department instead awarded 200 e-trikes to Marawi City for its rebuilding efforts. Some units will also be donated to Cebu and Bohol as part of their energy resiliency efforts.
The donation will be made through the Task Force Bangon Marawi (with a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the turnover of the e-trikes.
Cusi and TFBM chairperson Eduardo Del Rosario recently signed a memorandum to provide e-trikes to those affected by the siege.
A total of 3,000 e-trikes will be rolled out until June this year in key cities and municipalities.
Cusi said some of the e-trikes would donated to the military and police to be used inside the camps.
TFBM, which was established under Administrative Order No. 3 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on June 28, 2017, is a group of different government agencies tasked to facilitate the rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction of Marawi City.
The mandate of the Task Force is to develop and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery program based on a post-conflict needs assessment.