Davao City Council OKs electric vehicle incentive ordinance

By Ivy Tejano

Published May 15, 2026 09:32 pm

OCAMPO (FB)

DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Council approved on Tuesday, May 12, the ordinance establishing a comprehensive incentives framework for the electric vehicle (EV) sector, marking a major local push toward sustainable transport development in the city.

The measure provides fiscal and regulatory incentives to EV manufacturers, dealers, users, public transport operators, charging station developers, spare parts suppliers, and facilities involved in battery recycling and environmentally safe disposal.

Authored by Councilor Temujin Ocampo, chairman of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, the ordinance aligns local policies with Republic Act No. 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), as well as the city’s existing Local Incentive Code.

Under the ordinance, Ocampo said qualified enterprises may be granted incentives, including tax holidays of up to six years, subject to compliance with the ordinance’s requirements and investment thresholds.

The measure introduced streamlined processing procedures for EV-related businesses under an “ease of doing business” approach.

While certain non-regulatory fees, such as mayor’s permit charges, may be waived, companies will still be required to settle regulatory fees, including building permits and waste management charges.

For EV users, the ordinance grants free parking in designated city-managed areas, including sites on San Pedro and C.M. Recto Streets, for up to three hours.

Ocampo said the time limit was set to prevent misuse of parking spaces while still encouraging EV adoption.

Although the ordinance cannot compel private establishments, the city government encouraged malls and other commercial operators to adopt similar incentives for EV users.

On infrastructure readiness, the council reported consultations with Davao Light and Power Co., which assured sufficient electricity supply to support the expected expansion of charging stations and related facilities.

Industry interest has been noted, with companies such as BYD and VinFast reportedly exploring investment opportunities in Davao City’s EV infrastructure, including installing hundreds of charging stations.

The ordinance set specific eligibility requirements for businesses seeking incentives.

Domestic-oriented manufacturers must have at least P100 million in capital, employ a minimum of 20 workers, and be registered with the Board of Investments or Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Export-oriented manufacturers must have at least P200 million in paid-up capital, at least 25 employees, BOI or PEZA registration, and export at least 60 percent of their production.

Distributors and dealers must invest at least P10 million and employ at least five workers, with at least 70 percent of the employees residing in Davao City.

Charging station operators and enterprises involved in EV battery recycling or e-waste processing must invest at least P2 million or operate at least two charging stations, whichever is higher.

City officials said all investment proposals will undergo evaluation by the appropriate investment review body before qualification for incentives.

What are the high-end subdivisions in Davao City?

Davao City’s high-end residential subdivisions concentrate in areas with gated security, large lot sizes, mature landscaping, and proximity to prime amenities (business districts, international school campuses, golf courses, hospitals). Notable upscale subdivisions and exclusive villages:

• Matina Enclaves / Matina Village subdivisions
• Matina Enclaves (private gated pockets within Matina)
• Matina Town Square–adjacent upscale clusters
• Features: mature trees, proximity to shops and schools
• Talomo / Davao Golf and Country Club vicinity
• Davao Golf & Country Club subdivision pockets (private estates around the golf course)
• Nearby high-value enclaves along Quimpo Boulevard and Garden Park
• Features: large lots, golf course views, established affluent community
• Maa / J.P. Laurel Avenue luxury pockets
• Gated communities and high-end custom homes along Maa Road and J.P. Laurel
• Features: quick access to downtown, private compounds
• Lanang high-end subdivisions
• Areas along Lanang Road toward SM Lanang Premier and nearby beachfront resorts
• Features: newer gated developments, condos and exclusive houses
• Buhangin / Catalunan Grande exclusive villages
• Upscale gated villages and hillside estates in Buhangin and Catalunan Grande
• Features: larger parcels, rising luxury developments, improved road links to city center
• Sasa Bay / Toril upscale estates
• Waterfront and peri-urban estates with higher-end custom homes
• Features: larger lots, quieter coastal living
• Eden Nature Park adjacent estates (high-value rural-luxe)
• Mountain/forest estates and vacation homes near Eden Nature Park (Bajada–Toril corridor)
• Features: resort-style living, cooler climate, privacy

Developments and developers associated with higher-end projects:

• Santa Ana Village (private, low-density estates)
• Acacia Estates–type gated enclaves by local developers
• Boutique, developer-brand luxury gated communities (small-lot exclusive schemes by local builders)

Practical notes for buyers:

• Lot sizes and security determine “high-end” more than gate names; expect 500–2,000+ sqm parcels in the most exclusive pockets.
• Proximity to Davao International Airport, SM Lanang, Ateneo/Son of Mary schools, major hospitals and golf course drives demand premium prices.
• Newer vertical luxury (serviced condos) in Lanang and downtown offer alternative upscale living with less land maintenance.
• Verify subdivision HOAs, road titles (alienable and disposable vs. private roads), water and power reliability, and flood/landslide history before purchase.

Market context (as of May 2024): price premiums concentrate in Lanang (coastal/Lifestyle district), golf-course corridors, and mature Matina/Talomo enclaves; peri-urban hillside and beachfront estates command premium for privacy and views.

𝗘𝗟 𝗡𝗜𝗡̃𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗝𝗨𝗡

El Niño is developing in the Pacific Ocean 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱, now likely to emerge next month, according to the newly released update from NOAA Climate Prediction Center. 

The latest forecast also raises the possibility that it could intensify into a rare and historically powerful “Super” (Very Strong) El Niño by end of 2026. 

For the Philippines, this developing El Niño could trigger a more intense #habagat season by June-July before we shift into drier conditions as early as August or September. 

The "peak" effects of this El Niño will likely be from January to June 2027, marked by severe drought and extreme heat, which could trigger widespread water and electricity shortage during the Tag-init Season. 

Peso falls to new low of 61.64:$1

BY IAN NICOLAS P. CIGARAL

MAY 15, 2026

The Philippine peso fell to a fresh record closing low on Thursday, as domestic political tensions added pressure to an already weakening currency buffeted by a strong US dollar.

The local currency weakened by 26 centavos to settle at 61.64 per dollar, according to data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines, surpassing its previous all-time closing low of 61.567 set on April 29.

The peso posted an intraday low of 61.66 before recovering slightly. Trading volume eased to $1.6 billion from $1.8 billion a day earlier.

Our beloved Mother Earth

 

The poem “Mother Earth” is a beautiful description of the Earth as the mother of everything, including all objects in the world as well as human beings. The main idea of the poem is the love of nature and the role of the Earth as part of nature’s beauty.

Our Mother Earth is currently facing a lot of environmental concerns. Environmental problems like global warming, acid rain, air pollution, urban sprawl, waste disposal, ozone layer depletion, water pollution, climate change, and many more affect every human, animal, and nation on this planet.

Our environment provides a wide range of benefits, such as the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink, as well as the many materials needed in our homes, at work, and for leisure activities.

Healthy ecosystems clean our water, purify our air, maintain our soil, regulate the climate, recycle nutrients, and provide us with food. They provide raw materials and resources for medicines and other purposes. They are the foundation of all civilization and sustain our economies.

The environment gives us countless benefits that we can’t repay in our lifetime. It is connected with forests, trees, animals, water, and air. Forests and trees filter the air and absorb harmful gases. Plants purify water, reduce the chances of flooding, maintain the natural balance, and provide many other benefits.

We hear about threats to the environment every day. Whether it’s the ravages of climate change, deforestation, or pollution, apocalyptic-sounding events fill the news cycle. It can be overwhelming and challenging to discern what exactly it all means. The environment — which includes everything from the ocean to the forests — impacts every area of life. Here are 10 reasons why that’s important:

If you work in an office setting, you may not think about how the environment affects people’s lives and jobs. However, billions of people depend on the environment. Take forests, for example. More than 1.5 billion people rely on forests for food, shelter, medicine, and more. If crops fail, many turn to the woods. Two billion people, or almost 27% of the world’s population, earn their living from agriculture. Another 3 billion people depend on the ocean.

Caring for the environment could create millions of new jobs and help reduce poverty. In a report from the International Labour Organization, shifting to greener economies could create 24 million new jobs by 2030. Many fear that switching to green energy and more sustainable practices would cause more people to fall into poverty, but if green jobs take the place of old jobs, it does the opposite.

The loss of biodiversity has many negative consequences, but weakened food security is a big one. As the world loses animal and plant species, the ones that remain are more vulnerable to disease and pests. Our diets get less healthy, as well, which increases the risk for diet-related illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. Protecting environments like forests and oceans ensures there is food for every living thing.

Polluted air is a major issue in our world. Nine in 10 people breathe unclean air, which affects their health and lifespans. Health effects include developmental delays, behavioral problems, and diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Every year, polluted air contributes to the deaths of 7 million people. Trees are an especially effective filter. They remove air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide while releasing oxygen.

Environmental factors account for many infant and childhood deaths every year. Issues include a lack of access to clean water and clean air. Waterborne diseases alone kill about 1.4 million children each year. To save the lives of children, healthy environments and basic rights like clean air and water are necessary.

The vast majority of medicines have origins in the natural world. As an example, chemicals from the Pacific yew tree led to the creation of two chemotherapy drugs. Scientists and pharmaceutical companies constantly look to the environment for new and better medicines. Unfortunately, about 15,000 medicinal plant species face extinction, so if they disappear, humans miss out on potentially life-saving drugs.

Mental health is complex. It’s the result of factors such as genetics, lifestyle, relationships, and the environment. Researchers have studied the effects of nature and green spaces on mental health for years. Many studies show a significant benefit. In a 2019 review in Current Directions in Psychological Science, researchers found that green spaces near schools encourage cognitive development and better self-control in children. Another review from Science Advances found that nature is associated with greater happiness, well-being, and a sense of purpose.

Humans drive climate change. In the sixth report from the IPCC, the authors determined that the last decade was the hottest in human history, and we can now link specific weather events to human-made climate change. Climate change’s effect on the environment is hard to overstate. Diseases, droughts, severe weather events, and more threaten plants, animals, and humans. If fossil fuel emissions aren’t reduced immediately, the environment will become uninhabitable.

It’s challenging not to feel hopeless in the face of environmental disasters and climate change. However, we can’t afford to be hopeless, and there are many solutions we still have time to implement. Protecting plant and animal species, conserving healthy green spaces, and reducing emissions will make a difference. Humans can save the planet for future generations by caring for the environment.

We are all thankful to our mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us, as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks. But how long?

What is your contribution to keeping Mother Earth alive?

***

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com, visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com, or follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn.

CONFLICTS – PART OF OUR LIVES

 

• As of mid-2026, major ongoing conflicts causing significant global instability include the Russia-Ukraine war, the Gaza-Israel conflict, the Sudanese civil war, the Yemeni crisis, and widespread violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These wars involve major humanitarian crises, displacement, and geopolitical shifts.

We are in conflict with ourselves many times during life. Our future gives cause for concern; the past is captured, therefore we miss the future.

The grief and sorrow asked the hope, “How are you?” The hope answered, ” I am a little bit low and sad today!” The sorrow replied sarcastically, “I hope so!”

Conflict is the result of opposing thoughts, actions or ideas disrupting the status quo. Conflict is seen in everyday life, and is a natural, often selfish, and sometimes productive phenomenon. Because it can lead to violence and war in certain situations, the word ‘conflict’ often appears with a negative connotation.

Conflict is in our very nature. Every day, large or small, human conflicts are all around us. But conflict is simply a result of problems being tangled up with the darkside of human nature emerging from innate protection and competition motivations that have evolved over millions of years to help us survive, and that come with difficult tradeoffs. 

When conflict is mismanaged, it can cause great harm to a relationship, but when handled in a respectful, positive way, conflict provides an opportunity to strengthen the bond between two people. Whether you’re experiencing conflict at home, work, or school, learning these skills can help you resolve differences in a healthy way and build stronger, more rewarding relationships.

When people get angry with each other, they often say or do things without realizing the cause of their feelings. Understanding the dynamics behind a conflict can make it easier to resolve issues. This insight also can help you mediate a conflict between friends and relatives. Many experts break personal and professional conflicts down into basic types, based on the underlying causes of disagreements and the dynamics.

Nobody really knows what might happen after reaching the retirement age. Sure, if we can observe our neighbors and all other people in our surroundings, we really don’t like to know it. If we treat ourselves with care, our real age will not be shown. I won’t make any secret about celebrating my 72nd birthday sometime this year.  I am proud to reach this age with God’s help.

It seems that the respectable treatment of our beloved seniors around us are disappearing into the past and are forgotten by the younger generation. Praising the elderly nowadays means to attest to their impudent and imperishable youthfulness.  I am sure, with His help many seniors are still strong, still indefatigable, still a phenomenon, still intellectual and still spiritual on top!

Let’s not forget our respect, when sometimes just being artificial or  affected by stammering, that “our old lady” or “our old gentleman” hasn’t become senile yet.

On our way to an honorable and respectful age we should try to fulfill some of our greatest longings in life.

During the last decades, I met many people around the whole globe. Unbelievable, I found out, no matter where in this world, the conflicting attitude is everywhere. “It’s an absolute certainty, those doubts are the main certainty!” stressed already the German author, philosopher and dramatist Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956).

Please allow me, once in a while, to be able to say NO. Please allow me to delete inferior and defeatist feelings. Please allow me to admit that I can’t do everything during a single day. Please allow me to no longer be afraid about other people and their spiteful comments about me.  

Please allow me to accept my silence. Please accept me being terribly tired from time to time. Please allow me to be excused even without having an intelligent reply. Please allow me to be carried by salvation and bliss.

Hopefully, we may have enough understanding people with us to accompany us during the voyage of our sometimes very conflicting life.

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Eala to hone craft at Parma Ladies Open before Roland Garros

 

Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images / AFP

John Bryan Ulanday - Philstar.com

May 14, 2026 | 2:40pm

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines plays a forehand against Marketa Vondrousova of Czechia during their first round match on Day One of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on July 27, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala will be heading straight to France for one final tune-up tournament leading up the French Open after skipping one more scheduled campaign in Italy.

Eala was previously listed in the main draw of the WTA125 Parma Ladies Open, which already started Wednesday. Parma was a city neighboring Rome, where she just opted to play in the doubles of the Italian Open after a singles exit.

The 20-year-old Filipina now shifts her focus to the WTA500 Strasbourg Open, where she’s officially added to the qualifying draw. Her stint in Strasbourg, a city near Paris, was supposed to depend on her Parma Ladies Open campaign.

It will serve as her final preparation for the queen of clay, the French Open from May 24 to June 7 in Paris.

Eala will be bringing a bevy of lessons to France after productive campaigns in four clay tournaments, highlighted by her first career third-round finish in the Italian Open.

There, she stood her ground against top-ranked opponents with two wins before bowing to world No. 2 Elena Rybakina, who scored a hard-earned 6-4, 6-3 win in the Round of 32.

In the same tourney, Eala and American partner Hailey Baptiste came in as late replacements in the doubles but were eliminated early by the second-seeded Czechia’s Katerina Siniakova (World Doubles No. 1) and USA’s Taylor Townsend (World Doubles No. 2), 6-2, 6-1.

“There’s lot of things to work on and learn from this but I think I’m in a good way,” said Eala.

Before France, Eala also refined her bearings in the Upper Austria Ladies Linz Open in Austria (second round), the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany (first round) and the Mutua Madrid Open (second round).

Her solid play so far is projected to push her back inside the Top 40 (No. 38) from No. 42  as per the WTA live rankings, which will be updated after the Italian Open, approaching the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season.  

World Press Freedom Day 2026

 

By Fr. Shay Cullen, Founder since 1974

Journalism is considered one of the most dangerous professions in the world, so why, then, would anyone want to be in it, especially nowadays? Many journalists are harassed, threatened, beaten and even killed for reporting the truth.

Most journalists have a love of the truth. They believe that by researching, verifying and reporting the truth about current events or matters of great importance, this would enlighten, inspire and motivate their audience — and even the government — to make positive and informed decisions to help others. Journalists hope and believe that their work may bring about positive change in the lives of their families and society at large, and influence the government to do good and oppose wrongdoing.

Their commitment is based on the belief that people in a democracy have a fundamental right to know the truth, especially when it comes to public issues and elections. They should know what is right, good, true and beneficial, and what is not. They should be informed if a candidate is corrupt or a potential tyrant, or a person of honesty and integrity.

People also have a right to know how best to protect their families and the environment. They must be informed about hazardous situations, like water or food pollution, and about dangers to health. Informing the public is a commitment to public service — to help the community — and that is what true journalists do.

Journalists have an obligation to unearth the truth and expose corruption, abuses of power, and injustices and present these to those in authority, many of whom prefer to keep these hidden. This is called “speaking truth to power,” and it can be very dangerous. The goal of true journalists is not to shame or embarrass any person or group, but to work for positive transformation in society and inspire collective action for social justice and equality. Exposing corruption is one important way to protect the public from poverty, exploitation and other social evils.

Dedicated journalists reveal human tragedies and expose crimes against humanity to stop such evils, as well as hold perpetrators to account and save and protect victims. This kind of truth-telling is an ethical responsibility. It makes professional journalists essential to the world, so that truth can be known and acted upon. Many journalists have suffered because of their dedication to their profession.

The freedom to speak, write, or record events that affect the public must be treated with great respect, understanding and compassion. This is especially true when interviewing victims and reporting tragedies. The reporters have to maintain their integrity and independence and never receive gifts or rewards so as to be faithful to their commitment to report without “fear or favor.” This is an exercise in accountability, and they need to be transparent, open and skilled in making ethical choices. If they do make an honest mistake, they must admit and correct it without fail. Journalists lead dangerous lives, and many of them have sacrificed themselves in reporting the truth. Few countries are safe for journalists where there is conflict.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted the growing threats to journalists and the media on World Freedom Day on May 3. “When attacks on the media are normalized, freedom itself begins to decay, and with it, the foundations of peace, security, and sustainable development,” he said.

He also paid tribute to the courageous reporters and photographers across the world “who document horrific atrocities, expose corruption, and scrutinize business operations.” He added that “journalism today has become an insecure and, at times, dangerous profession,” as its practitioners have been “bombed in their cars, abducted from their offices, silenced behind bars, and dismissed from their jobs.”

Türk also said the war in Gaza had become a “death trap” for the media, with his office verifying that nearly 300 journalists have been killed since October 2023.

The toll on frontline journalists globally has been horrific. In 2025 alone, as many as 129 journalists were killed. That same year, about 533 others were imprisoned, most of them in China. This year, 14 journalists were killed so far. The deadliest conflict zone is in Gaza; in 2025, alone, between 60 and 86 Palestinian journalists were slain, mostly in Israeli airstrikes. The second most dangerous is Mexico, where nine journalists were killed last year, with most for reporting on organized crime and political corruption.

The Philippines is one of the deadliest countries in Southeast Asia for journalists, with 147 killed since 1986. The only year no journalist was killed was 2024. When journalists are harassed and threatened by the government and forced to flee their country, they do not always find a safe haven. Agents from Russia, China and Iran, among others, track and harass journalists in exile. These agents have almost complete impunity in doing so, and this encourages them to continue. There is no way to stop them.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is the world’s largest organization of media professionals. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said:

“Every attack on a media professional is an attack aimed at silencing a story intended to inform citizens. The deplorable state of press freedom across the world must mobilize each and every one of us. Through journalists, it is our readers, our listeners, who are being targeted — prevented from making informed decisions. Our journalistic right to inform is also the public’s right to be informed. It is equally up to citizens to mobilize to protect this right by holding their governments to account. We need laws that protect the right to information, guarantee the independence and pluralism of the media, ban the use of spyware and all forms of surveillance, regulate the use of artificial intelligence and combat the systemic impunity of those who violate press freedom. It is time to act. Together.”

All of us must stand to defend the right to freedom of expression.

CEBU PACIFIC REVENUE GROWS IN THE FIRST QUARTER 2026

Cebu Pacific brought in more revenue in the first quarter, helped by more seats and steady passenger demand, but peso depreciation pushed the airline to a net loss.

The airline reported ₱33.3 billion in total revenue, up 10 percent from the same period last year. It carried 7.5 million passengers, an 8 percent increase, while its seat load factor reached 83.7 percent.

Passenger revenue rose 6 percent to ₱22.5 billion. Ancillary revenue grew faster at 19 percent to ₱9 billion, helped by better yields from add-on services. Cargo revenue also increased 8 percent to ₱1.8 billion, supported by higher widebody capacity.

Cebu Pacific also improved its operating performance. EBITDA climbed 26 percent to ₱8.4 billion, while operating income rose 54 percent to ₱3 billion. Core income before tax also improved to ₱1.3 billion from ₱325 million last year.

The main drag came from non-core foreign exchange losses of ₱1.8 billion due to quarter-end peso depreciation. This led to a net loss of ₱400 million, compared with a ₱466 million net income in the same period last year.

Cebu Pacific ended March 2026 with 101 aircraft and more than ₱23 billion in cash.

“Our first-quarter performance reflects the strength of our network and disciplined capacity deployment,” said Mike Szucs, Chief Executive Officer of Cebu Pacific. “As we navigate a more volatile operating environment amid higher fuel prices, we are taking a more cautious and measured approach focused on margin protection, prudent capacity deployment, and liquidity preservation. Our scale, fleet efficiency, and strong domestic network position us well to navigate near-term uncertainty while continuing to build long-term value.”

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