Good news for Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturers, advocates, and even environmentalists: Senate Bill No. 1382, better known as the Electric Vehicles (EV) and Charging Stations Act, has passed its third reading.

The Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act states that the government supports and encourages the innovation of clean, sustainable, and efficient energy to accelerate social progress and human development by encouraging public and private use of new and alternative energy technology. 

It also introduced the Comprehensive Roadmap on Electric Vehicles (CREV). The CREV is a national plan with an annual work plan to accelerate the electrification of transportation in the country with four components: 1) electric vehicles and charging stations, 2) manufacturing, 3) research and development, and 4) human resource development. This shall be incorporated in the Philippine Energy Plan and the National Transport Policy. 

The Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act was written back in March 2020 by Senators Sherwin T. Gatchalian, Ralph G. Recto, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Francis Pangilinan, Emmanuel Pacquaio, Grace Poe, and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. 

Different gov’t agencies are tasked to help the Act accomplish its goals:  the Department of Energy (DOE) shall be in charge of the promotion and spread of influence of the use of EV’s and electric technology to all; the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) shall be in charge of the rates and regulation of fees; the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall be in charge of sourcing and developing charging ports; the Department of Transportation (DOTr) be in charge of the public use of EV’s and setting up rules and guidelines for our public roads; and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall be in charge of building charging stations in fitting public locations. 

Now, the Electric Vehicles (EV) and Charging Stations Act will just have to go through the Conference Committee and then to the President for his approval or veto.