Various incentives eyed for e-vehicle owners

MANILA, Philippines — Exemptions from traffic schemes, special lanes and prioritization in transport offices are among the incentives being eyed by the government to encourage more people to shift to electric vehicles (EVs). 

In a Palace briefing on Tuesday,  Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Felix Fuentebella said that some incentives for EV users include the suspension of import tariff and other taxes.

“We’re also looking at a number of strategies or incentives,” said Fuentebella.

“Mayroon tayong priority registration sa LTO (Land Transportation Office) and priority processing of franchise to operate sa LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board), mayroon tayong electric vehicle exempted from the vehicle reduction scheme or the number coding scheme,” he added.

(We have priority registration for the LTO and priority processing of franchise to operate for the LTFRB; we have electric vehicles exempted from the vehicle reduction scheme or the number coding scheme.)

According to Fuentebella, the government is also looking into creating green lanes for EV users.

All of these proposed strategies are in accordance with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, said Fuentebella.

The said law was enacted in 2022, which pushes for the promotion of EVs in the country.