The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) issued a memorandum that exempts electric vehicles (EVs) from the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), better known as number coding.
MMDA Memorandum
With that being said, EV owners can use their all-electric car any time of the year without getting flagged due to number coding-related apprehensions. The number coding is imposed by the government agency to manage the traffic in the National Capital Region (NCR), especially along major thoroughfares such as EDSA and C5.
The memorandum follows the lapsing of the Republic Act 11697, or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), into law. This mandates the creation of a Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI), which serves to accelerate the growth of the EV market in the country.
Despite the exemption, EV owners might find themselves stopped by apprehending officers for number coding. As such, they are recommended to bring a copy of the memorandum to avoid the hassle. Not everyone can distinguish EV models from international combustion engine (ICE) cars as the local electric market is still in its early stages.
Kia EV6 at the 8th PIMS
Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) has an entry into this market with the LEAF priced at Php 2,798,000. Kia Philippines also announced that it will debut the EV6 with a price under Php 4 million early next year. Those who can afford the relatively hefty price tags can enjoy EV benefits such as eco-friendly benefits, lower ownership costs, and of course – exemption from the number coding.
SM Supermalls also support the growth of the all-electric car market by launching in-mall EV charging stations at its select malls in Metro Manila – free of charge. If you are interested to know more about EVs, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) will hold the 10th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS) at the SMX Convention from October 20 to 21.
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