Business groups seek swift approval of EV bill

MANILA, Philippines — Local and foreign business groups are pushing for the swift bicameral conference committee approval by the House of Representatives and Senate of a proposed measure which seeks to support the electric vehicle (EV) industry in the country.

The business groups, consisting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Electric Vehicles Association of the Philippines, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc., Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc., Philippine Parts Maker Association Inc., and Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc., said in a statement yesterday they are hopeful the ratification of the bill would be made before Congress goes on recess on Dec.15.

The bill seeks to establish a policy framework for EVs and charging infrastructure.

The bill was approved on third and final reading at the House of Representatives last September, while the Senate’s version was approved earlier this year.

In pushing for the approval of the bill, the groups said it is important for the Philippines to take part in the accelerating global shift to EVs.

This, as the groups said “[s]uch a shift away from the dominant propulsion system for motor vehicles is nothing less than revolutionary and needed to meet rising health and environmental concerns.”

Among those promoting partial or full adoption of EVs are Norway, the UK, India, Canada, Japan, Thailand and Taiwan.

Countries like Singapore and South Korea have introduced incentives for the use of EVs.

Last August, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order which calls for 50 percent of new passenger cars sold to be electric vehicles powered by batteries and fuel cells or plug-in electric hybrids by 2030.

“The EV bill in Congress provides support for EV infrastructure necessary to promote the use and adoption of EVs in the Philippines, which currently has the least number of publicly accessible charging stations in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),” the groups said.

The groups said approval of the proposed measure would enable the country to maximize its potential to take part in the EV industry supply chain particularly components, batteries, and charging stations.

“Passage of the measure enables and supports the Department of Trade and Industry in its endeavors to promote the Philippines as a regional hub for EV manufacturing,” the groups said.