(Eagle News)–Senator Sherwin Gatchalian wants a comprehensive framework in place for e-vehicles before 2024 to ensure their sustainability.
In a statement, Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on energy, noted that by 2024, the price of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles would be the same as EVs.
“We have to ensure that the industry is alive and vibrant, so that when 2024 comes in, it will be easier for our consumers to adopt and switch to e-vehicles,” Gatchalian said.
To sustain the EV ecosystem in the Philippines, Gatchalian said there was a need to go beyond the promotion of EVs and charging stations.
He said the government should take into consideration the “other side” of the EV industry, which includes manufacturing of EVs, charging stations, and batteries; research and development; and skills training of people and employees.
He also proposed the granting of fiscal incentives in the short term, including exempting EVs from Value Added Tax.
He said this would help EVs compete “head-to-head” with other types of vehicles.
“That’s precisely what we want, to have faster adoption of e-vehicles so that we’ll have cleaner environment; we can help reduce importation of oil, which is about 90 percent of imported fuel; and achieve energy security, hopefully in the near future,” Gatchalian said.