The Department of Energy (DOE) has clarified that electric vehicles (EVs) remain automatically exempted from the number coding scheme under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), following a recent advisory from the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG).

In a statement released on October 8, the DOE stated there is no requirement for EV owners to secure a certification from the agency to qualify for exemption from the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding policy implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as well as other local government units.

Citing Section 25(a)(2) of Republic Act No. 11697, the DOE said the EVIDA Law automatically exempts all types of EVs – these include Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), and Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs) – from number coding for a period of eight years from the law’s implementation.

The DOE added that it has already issued Department Circular No. DC2023-05-0012, as amended by DC2025-09-0015, known as the Electric Vehicle Recognition Guidelines, which governs the recognition and classification of EVs for non-fiscal incentives such as the UVVRP exemption.

A full list of recognized EV models is available on the EV Industry Portal: www.evindustry.ph 

The DOE said it is coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), MMDA, PNP-HPG, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and local government units to ensure the harmonized enforcement of the EVIDA Law and support the country’s transition to sustainable and low-emission mobility.

Do you think clearer EV policies and coordination among agencies can help accelerate the country’s shift toward cleaner transportation?

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