
The first of June dawned bright and sunny as UPLB unveiled the Tipaklong Mobility Sharing Project, a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to intra-campus transportation and an integral part of UPLB’s Green Mobility Initiative, and the Campus Hopping Tour under UPLB’s PASEO (Promoting Agroforest Stewardship & Ecological Observations through Edutourism) program.
The Tipaklong Mobility Sharing Project involves a fleet of e-bikes, manual bikes, and e-scooters that UPLB constituents and visitors to the campus can rent using a mobile app. The Campus Hopping Tour, meanwhile, is a component of PASEO that will allow visitors to trace the academic heritage of UPLB by visiting buildings and landmarks with historical and cultural significance.
UP President Angelo Jimenez and CHED Chairperson J. Prospero “Popoy” De Vera III graced the program launch. The event was opened by UPLB Chancellor Jose Camacho Jr., who welcomed the VIPs, alumni, and participants and thanked them warmly for their support of UPLB’s endeavors.
Campus hopping aboard Tipaklong
To launch both Tipaklong and the Campus Hopping Tour, participants rode the bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters and “hopped” to key landmarks and buildings around the campus where a PASEO member gave information about them.
The tour included stops at the UPLB Main Library, Mariang Banga at Palma Bridge, D.L. Umali Hall, the Carillon Tower, the Kapit-Kapit Monument, Baker Hall, and the Student Union Building. According to Vice Chancellor Cereno, the full PASEO tour would include a total of fifteen landmarks and provide options for both a guided walking tour and a “hopping” tour on e-bikes and e-scooters.
Vice Chancellor Cereno said that the shared mobility program would reduce campus emissions and was UPLB’s answer to “local action toward global climate concern.” At the same time, it also aimed to complement the provision of accessible and affordable transportation and mobility options to UPLB constituents by public utility jeepneys.
Cereno also said that the e-bikes and e-scooters would soon run on solar power by being recharged through solar panels installed on campus. He said, “99% of the energy powering UPLB is renewable, kasi galing sa geothermal; pero of course, we are aiming for 100%.”
Promoting cycling and the use of technology; UP’s contribution to Net Zero
Chairperson De Vera lauded the new mobility program and shared his excitement that it promotes cycling and the cycling culture. An avid cyclist, De Vera recounted his efforts in telling the country’s state universities and colleges, “especially the big ones,” to implement cycling in their campuses “not only because it is healthy but also because it is environmentally sound.” He also noted that aside from promoting cycling, the Tipaklong project also promoted the use of technology, another of his advocacies.
UP President Jimenez also shared his thoughts on the Tipaklong project, stating that it was a significant contribution to UP’s commitment to reaching Net Zero. He praised UPLB for being a ‘dynamic and beautiful’ campus and reminded attendees of UP’s renewed commitment toward public service.
“Education is a right, but a UP education is a privilege,” said Jimenez. “We need to show why we deserve [the privilege], we have to serve.”
UPLB’s Tipaklong partners
During the program, partner organizations were recognized for donating bike racks for the use of Tipaklong vehicles as well as personal bikes and scooters of UPLB constituents.
These organizations are the APO Theta Alumni Association, UPLB Upsilon Sigma Phi, UP Beta Sigma Fraternity Los Baños Chapter, UP Epsilon Chi Fraternity Los Baños Chapter, UP Grand Order of the Eagles, Gamma Epsilon Fraternity & Gamma Lambda Epsilon Sorority UPLB Omega Chapter Alumni Association, Zeta Beta Rho Honor Fraternity & UP Mussaenda Honor Sorority, UPLB Forestry Society, UPLB Alumni Batch 2000-Hinterlanders, and the Energy Development Corporation.
Following this, the president and founder of Tipaklong Sustainable Mobility Corporation (TSMC), Arnold Bufi, gave a short presentation on the history of the company. Afterward, TSMC staff shared insights on the Tipaklong mobile app, through which the Tipaklong vehicles could be rented, and also gave a brief lecture on riding and safety protocols.
The much-awaited riding tour then took place with several dozen participants riding the Tipaklong e-bikes, manual bikes, and e-scooters to the PASEO Tour locations. The riding tour concluded at D.L. Umali Hall, where the riders enjoyed some refreshments.
The Tipaklong Mobility Sharing Project is open for use by all UPLB constituents and visitors via downloading the Tipaklong app. (Albert Geoffred B. Peralta)