Reported by Edge Davao on April 22, the Davao City government is finalizing the Electric Vehicle Ordinance of 2026, which offers a raft of incentives to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in private, government and public transport sectors, as well as the construction of supporting charging facilities and a battery recycling system.

Key incentives include up to five years of local tax exemption for automakers, dealers and charging stations; registration fee reductions, fast-track registration and free designated parking for eligible vehicle owners within a set period; three years of local business tax exemption for battery recyclers, followed by 60% and 40% reductions in the fourth and fifth years; and up to three years of basic real property tax exemption for eligible business properties.

Supporting measures cover: establishing a mandatory battery recycling system; giving priority to purchasing recycled batteries and components in government projects; setting up an Electric Vehicle Monitoring Committee (EVMC);establishing an Electric Vehicle Sustainability Fund (EVSF)with an annual special fund of 1 million Philippine pesos; and banning the illegal disabling of vehicle anti-theft devices to protect consumer rights.

The ordinance is expected to be approved by the end of May 2026, with several international EV firms expressing interest to invest. Once implemented, Davao City will gradually replace government and public transport vehicles with EVs, building a modern, eco-friendly and green transportation system.