Albay representative Joey Salceda has introduced new legislation seeking to amend the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) to broaden the scope of electric vehicles, address current limitations of the law, and align the country with the Paris Agreement on cutting fossil use and reliance.
Additionally, Salceda’s House Bill 9573 also pushes for expanded tax breaks and the inclusion of two-wheeled EVs.
The lawmaker said the primary goal of the amendments is the Philippines’ rising dependence on imported fossil fuels, as shown in the skyrocketing prices of petroleum import bills from about $11.6 billion in 2021 to $19.02 billion in 2022.
Further, Salceda said while EVIDA has driven a surge in electric car sales, it has excluded two-wheeled EVs from key fiscal incentives.
This, Salceda said, is “inequitable,” considering that these less expensive and congestion-busting vehicles constitute 60% of the country’s EVs.
The proposed law further proposes several key changes, including the granting zero-percent import duty on completely built electric vehicles until 2029, alongside duty exemptions for charging stations and components for eight years.
On the implementation side, the bill’s calls for relevant agencies to establish clear guidelines within 90 days of the law’s effectivity.
Salceda said by addressing current limitations and expanding incentives, the bill will pave the way for broader EV adoption, aligning the country with global efforts to combat climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
