• THERESA MAE DULMAN
To keep pace with the growing adoption of green transportation, a member of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod is pushing for an ordinance that will establish the guidelines for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the city.
The proposed measure, authored by Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, was already approved on first reading, with the committee report expected to be submitted to the SP soon, following the conduct of a public hearing.
“We need to support the e-vehicle movement with corresponding charging stations, so we crafted this (proposed) ordinance to properly organize them; otherwise, they might just pop up on every street corner, like sari-sari stores,” he stressed.
Sayson also said that Bacolod must prepare its infrastructure for regional eco-tourism and inter-island travelers.
He noted that the city is already seeing an increase in visitors from neighboring areas, like Dumaguete and Siquijor, who utilize electric vehicles and depend on reliable public charging networks.
While the national government regulates the broader industry, Sayson said the proposed ordinance aims to localize the national framework to better suit Bacolod’s specific urban landscape.
Sayson said several commercial establishments and shopping malls in the city have already installed EV charging stations but operate without formal business permits from the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) because the local government has yet to implement specific regulatory guidelines. | TMD
