DOE endorses importation, use of electric cars for public transport in Philippines

The Department of Energy (DOE) has endorsed the importation of electric cars into the Philippines, its Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in an interview on Dobol B TV on Monday.

Cusi said the DOE has been coordinating with public utility vehicle operators as well as ride-hailing service operators to use electric cars.

“Ngayon, nakapagbigay na kami ng endorsement para importation ng mga electric cars (Now, we already gave endorsement for the importation of electric cars),” he said.

“It’s a question of time bago makita natin on our street na tumatakbo na 'yung electric cars, sa mga taxi, sa mga cars-for-hire (before we see electric cars in taxis and cars-for-hire plying on our streets,” he added.

This is one of the alternatives of the DOE to address problems due to fuel price hikes.

Cusi said fuel prices have gone up since January this year from around $50 to $96 dollars per barrel.

The DOE earlier proposed suspending the oil excise tax—which accumulated to P6 per liter for diesel and P10 for gasoline under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law—in light of the fuel price hikes.

The Department of Finance however pointed out that the government will lose P131.4 billion in revenues that can be used to fund pandemic measures due to the proposed suspension of the tax.

Aside from suspending the oil excise tax, the DOE also wants Congress to amend the Oil Deregulation Law to allow the government to intervene amid the continuous spike in petroleum prices. —KG, GMA News