A FREE Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station was officially launched at SM Lanang Premier basement grounds on February 6 in a bid to encourage Dabawenyos to use electric vehicles (e-vehicles).
This project of SM Malls aims to encourage motorists to prioritize the use of e-vehicles rather than gasoline-powered ones.
The launching was graced by the Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the City Government of Davao.
“Sino ba’ng ayaw maglakad dito sa street kasi mabaho, maraming usok (Who does want to walk the streets because of smog?) [Definitely] this kind of development [for] all cities in the world are going to this electrification,” Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry chair Bernard Al-ag said.
Adrian Delola, Department of Energy (DOE) Science Research Specialist II, said the e-charging stations are gradually being installed in Mindanao.
According to DOE's profiling, this is the fourth charging station for e-vehicles in Davao Region. However, this is the first mall-based charging station.
“[The promotion of e-vehicles and their charging stations are] Dako kaayo ni siya’g ambag sa sa atoang panggamhanan ug constituents sa Davao aron ma-urge nato silang mogamit og e-vehicles (a big help to our government and constituents in Davao to urge them to use e-vehicles),” Delola said.
He also said once EV stations and e-vehicles will increase in Mindanao, their department will be stricter in implementing guidelines and setting requirements for all establishments.
However, as of today, these guidelines are being finalized. He also said that once EV stations and e-vehicles increase in Mindanao, their department will be stricter in implementing guidelines and setting requirements for all establishments,
Al-ag said e-vehicles can benefit the environment.
“We are encouraging Dabawenyos to shift to electric cars. This is good for our environment and good for our city,” Al-ag said.
SM Lanang Premier said in a statement that the launching of the free EV charging station is their environmental campaign to “help decrease the carbon footprint while addressing air pollutants all over the country.” ICE