EVs pushed for greener public transit in Bacolod City

BACOLOD CITY — Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has endorsed a shift to electric vehicles as part of efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on petroleum, improve local air quality, and lower long-term operating and maintenance costs for transport operators.

Benitez stressed this in a video message at the 2026 Bacolod Electric Vehicle Summit organized by his office at Ayala Malls Capitol Central here, which opened Monday and runs until Friday, Oct. 30.

“With the right infrastructure, financing, government and private sector partnerships, we can make electric mobility more accessible to our drivers and operators, while keeping fares affordable for commuters,” Benitez said.

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“As we build a smarter, healthier, and more sustainable Bacolod Super City, let us ensure that this transition benefits everyone,” he added.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Acting Chairman Greg Pua Jr., who graced the summit opening, said using electric vehicles has a big impact on the environment because they do not emit smoke into the air.

“It is our responsibility to protect our environment for the future of our next generation,” he said, which is why LTFRB is pushing for public utility vehicles to go electric.

Pua debunked fears of the World Bank’s supposed involvement in the government’s push for electric vehicles under the jeepney modernization program.

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He said that while the World Bank has been consulted, they have no agreements on funding or procedures for the EV acquisition.

Pua assured that the government, the Department of Transportation, and the LTFRB will conduct a public consultation with transport groups as they encourage them to shift towards electric vehicles. He said they will prioritize their best interests.

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Modernization efforts in public transit must serve to provide direct financial relief to commuters, drivers, and jeepney operators facing high fuel prices, Bacolod City Vice Mayor Claudio Puentevella said in his speech at the summit.

Puentevella said that, beyond displaying modern transport technology, the summit offers Bacolodnons a crucial opportunity to take meaningful action toward a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.

He expressed optimism that the summit would educate residents on the key advantages of electric mobility, including potential fuel and maintenance savings, reduced air pollution, and higher energy efficiency.

The vice mayor stressed that technological innovation must remain inclusive, ensuring that its benefits reach ordinary citizens, commuters, drivers, and the local business community.

He said real progress should not be measured solely by adopting advanced technology, but by how effectively it improves daily life and benefits consumers.

Executive Assistant Mona Dia Jardin, representing Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya, said in her speech that the Bacolod City government has deployed 26 electric vehicles across key local offices as part of initial steps to integrate sustainable transportation into daily operations.

READ: Gov’t sets sights on EVs made in PH to cut oil imports

The initial rollout includes 10 electric vehicles for the Bacolod City Police Office, seven for the City Engineer’s Office, four assigned to the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office, three for the Office of the Building Official, and one unit each for the City Planning and Development Office and the City Communications and Liaison Department, she said.

Jardin emphasized that shifting toward green mobility requires more than unit acquisitions, pointing to the need for robust charging infrastructure, accessible financing, supportive policies, and integration with renewable energy.

To complement the EV rollout, the city is also pursuing solar energy projects for the Bacolod City Government Center and Bacolod City College, with plans for public school installations currently under review, she said.

Highlighting the summit’s goal of fostering public-private collaboration, Jardin said wider adoption across public transport and private sectors hinges on vehicle affordability, infrastructure readiness, and stakeholder confidence.

“The success of this transition should not be measured solely by the number of electric vehicles we acquire,” Jardin said.

READ: EVs continue to defy auto sales downturn

“It should also be measured by the quality of public service we deliver, the sustainability of our investments, the opportunities we create for our people, and the improvements we achieve in our urban environment,” she said.

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The summit opening was attended by Bacolod City officials, representatives from government agencies and the private sector, 12 electric vehicle exhibitors and suppliers, four financial institutions, and transport groups./coa