In its bid to reduce the carbon footprint in the Philippines and improve air quality, the DOTr is looking to use EVs for public transpo, and Sec. Jaime Bautista said that they are working on a roadmap for the transition to EVs.
”We’re also asking the operators, instead of operating the Euro 5 or Euro 6 engines, they can go full electric. I think this is very important. We want a green transport system. That’s one of the priorities that we are adopting,” Bautista said.
Under the current iteration of the PUV Modernization Program, operators are not obliged to shift to EVs. Instead, they are “encouraged” to upgrade to Euro 5 or 6 engines.
Also part of its plans to transition public transpo to use EVs, the DOTr is considering giving incentives like tax breaks and low-interest loans to operators who are willing to make the transition. Currently, the DOTr gave operators until the end of the year to form a group for easier bank loan approval—with around 60% of operators in the country having formed a group.
DOTr’s plans to make use of EVs for public transpo is in line with the government’s plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 and increase the number of EVs in the Philippines to 50% by 2040.
DOTr has yet to disclose a timeline for the EV transition, but Bautista assures the public that they are working on it.
