The Davao City Council on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance granting incentives to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, dealers, users, charging station operators, and battery recycling facilities in a bid to promote sustainable and energy-efficient transportation in the city.
The ordinance, authored by Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo, who is the chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, seeks to align the city’s policies with Republic Act No. 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA Law), which promotes the development and use of electric vehicles in the country.
The ordinance emphasized that the city government of Davao is committed to encouraging the use and adoption of EVs “for private, government, or public conveyances, as an environmentally sound means of transportation,” while also ensuring the safe disposal and recycling of EV batteries and electronic components and the establishment of charging infrastructure.
Under the ordinance, the policy will apply to EV manufacturers, dealers, distributors, private and government users, public conveyance operators, spare parts suppliers, charging station operators, and enterprises engaged in EV battery and electronic waste recycling, repurposing, and disposal within Davao City.
The measure also provides local incentives for qualified EV-related businesses.
“For Local Tax Holiday, all eligible business enterprises are entitled to tax holidays up to a maximum of six (6) years and other applicable fees and incentives,” the ordinance stated.
The incentives include exemptions from the payment of Mayor’s Permit fees, licenses, and charges, excluding building permit fees, garbage fees, sanitary inspection fees, electrical inspection fees, and other similar charges.
The ordinance clarified that incentives will be subject to prior evaluation and recommendation by the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) and approval by the Davao City Investment Incentive Board (DCIIB).
The approved measure also created the Electric Vehicle Monitoring Committee (EVMC), a multi-sectoral body tasked to coordinate, review, and recommend policies and measures for the effective implementation of the ordinance.
The committee will be chaired by the city mayor, with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) head serving as vice chairperson. Members will include representatives from the city council, City Legal Office, Business Bureau, City Treasurer’s Office, City Planning and Development Office, City Engineer’s Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Department of Energy (DOE), City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (DCCCII), and non-government organizations.
Ocampo said the ordinance is expected to strengthen Davao City’s push toward cleaner transportation systems while encouraging investments in electric mobility and related industries.
