The Marcos administration will purchase e-vehicles to replace some 10 percent of the fleet used by government agencies, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Tuesday, April 30.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. presides over a sectoral meeting on Electric Vehicle (EV) Industry Development and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development Plan in Malacañang. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella disclosed during a Palace press briefing after a sectoral meeting with President Marcos the government’s plan to change its vehicles into electronic cars.
“Yes, targeting 10 percent of the fleet should be electric vehicle,” he told reporters, adding that Marcos already created an inter-agency led by the DOE with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The budget agency will ensure that the procurement of the e-vehicles will be compliant to existing rules and regulations.
“There was a thumbs up from DBM Secretary Amenah (Pangandaman) that it is already in place,” Fuentebella, a lawyer, added.
The sectoral meeting focused on the updates regarding the country’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Industry Development, which aims to promote the development and adoption of EVs in the country.
The plan outlined the government agencies’ roles in mandating fleet composition and establishing charging stations and infrastructure in the Philippines.
Citing the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, Fuentebella said that government agencies “should push for the promotion of electric vehicles.”
“And we are not only looking into the technology but the President also wants us to focus on achieving the numbers by looking at fleet or the group approach, looking at the consumer experience,” he added.
Asked about the timeline of the procurement of e-vehicles, he replied: “Iyong sa procurement timeline ayaw kong makialam (With regards to procurement timeline, I don’t want to interfere). I think every year kasi mayroon tayong (we have) procurement so I just have to check on that.”
The official also admitted that there are only 73 electronic vehicle charging points in the country, although the government is targeting to reach around 100.