DoE, DTI pushing e-vehicle dev’t

The Departments of Energy, and Trade and Industry are working together to accelerate the development of the electric vehicle (EV) industry in the Philippines, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) president Rommel Juan said in a statement.

Juan said that Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras is pushing for the development of the Alternative Fuels Vehicle Program, spending about two hours every week discussing and monitoring its development.

Almendras has also pushed for the National Economic and Development Authority and presidential approvals of the $500-million eTrike program to be administered by the DoE and to be funded by the Asian Development Bank, with a $99-million counterpart fund from the government.

The eTrike project aims to replace the smoke-belching, gasoline-powered tricycles in the country.

Under the program, e-trikes will have to be manufactured and assembled in the Philippines.

Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, meanwhile, has tasked DTI offices in the East Asia region to organize missions composed of leading players in the EV industries of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan as prospective investors or joint-venture partners in research and development, manufacturing, assembly and as suppliers of critical EV components, Juan said.

DTI will also help local EV players meet international business partners who can offer technology, capital assistance and later the development of EV-related products for domestic and export markets, Juan said.—Riza T. Olchondra