‘Byahe’ takes over Meralco’s EV jeep business

‘Byahe’ takes over Meralco’s EV jeep business

By Emmie V. Abadilla

As part of the MVP group’s thrust for sustainable transportation, On-Us Solutions, Inc. (Byahe) is acquiring 100 percent of Meralco’s eSakay business.

Meralco’s eSakay has been operating since 2019 and makes use of an ageing fleet of electric vehicles.

Byahe plans to modernize this fleet with best-in-class electric jeepneys that comply with government standards.

“We are currently in discussions with electric jeepney suppliers who can meet our requirements,” says Laurence Bahia, Byahe CEO. “We hope to be able to launch this in the coming year.”

Byahe is one of the eight operating units of MPT Mobility, the innovations arm of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC).

Last year, MPT Mobility became the single biggest shareholder of Byahe, a transport firm co-founded by businessmen Brian Cu and Enrique Gonzalez in 2018.

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Byahe operates as a privately owned modernized jeepney operator under the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

The program currently being implemented is saddled by the high costs of operations.

While EV jeepneys have lower operating costs, they still needs government assistance to be viable.

“This acquisition will allow Byahe and MPT Mobility to give birth to a new era in public transport,” underscored Enrique Gonzales, Byahe Co-founder.

“The electric PUJ under the government’s modernization program has finally arrived,” he added.

“Byahe can help turn our public transportation into a world-class sector and contribute to nation-building,” according to Rodrigo E. Franco, MPT Mobility President and Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) CEO.

“We do this by combining innovative technology, a more organized fleet system, and heightened focus on the safety and welfare of the passengers and drivers,” he concluded.