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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Environment group urges gov't to expedite grant of incentives to electric vehicles 

Environment group urges gov't to expedite grant of incentives to electric vehicles 

Published Jun 19, 2023 03:30 am
Environment group Pollution Control Association of the Philippines (PCAP) urged on Monday, June 19, the national government to speed up the grant of incentives mostly needed to mainstream electric vehicles. PCAP vice president for External Affairs Jeremiah Dwight Sebastian emphasized the benefits of aggressively pushing for the electric vehicles in the country, saying it would paved the way for less air pollution which translates to good public health. “The benefits of electric vehicles means having less air pollution which means less sick people, and less need to go to the hospital,” said Sebastian. "Electric vehicles are critical technology to push forward the ‘decarbonization’ effort since this will allow us to have a more flexible option in its energy source... this can also minimize what I believe [is] a major issue of pollution in highly urbanized [communities]," he added. He explained that this is due to electric vehicles’ zero tailpipe emissions which reduce carbon emissions and carbon footprints as compared to gasoline-powered cars. The Statista Research Department found that the Philippines' transport sector in 2021 emitted 31.54 million tons of carbon dioxide. According to the American Lung Association, transitioning to electric vehicles will help save 110,000 lives, prevent 2.7 million childhood asthma attacks, and over $1.7 trillion in global climate benefits gained in the United States alone. The shift to electric vehicles is seen as one of the solutions that the government is implementing to decarbonize the Philippines and help weaken the effects of climate change. Earlier this year, Executive Order No. 12 series of 2023 was issued to mainstream the usage of electric vehicles in the country along with the target of slashing the rate of carbon emissions caused by fueled-run vehicles. Different types of electric vehicles received tax breaks except for the e-motorcycles which are still subject to 30 percent import duty, prompting several stakeholders in the electric vehicle industry to call for its revision. “Only more affluent Filipinos — indeed a limited segment of the population — can afford to buy four-wheel vehicles and hence enjoy these incentives... This is why the government must make these tax incentives more inclusive," said Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship Secretary General Felix Jose Vitangcol. Motorcycles hold the majority of the motorists in the country, recording more than 7.81 million registered motorcycles in 2022, based on the study by Statista Research Department. The Department of Energy (DOE) aims to roll out 2,454, 200 electric vehicles, consisting of cars, tricycles, motorcycles, and buses, and 65,000 charging stations nationwide by 2028. With the revision of the EO12 to include e-motorcycles, it is expected to accelerate the country's full shift to electric vehicles.
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