Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is urging the government to accelerate the country’s shift to electric vehicles (EVs) as tensions in the Middle East threaten to push global oil prices higher.
Gatchalian said the country remains highly vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil markets because it imports the vast majority of its fuel supply.
“The ongoing hostilities in the Middle East should serve as a wake-up call. We desperately need to reduce the country’s vulnerability to oil price volatility. Paulit-ulit na lang na pinapasan ng mga Pilipino ang bigat ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis,” Gatchalian said.
He added that expanding EV adoption could help shield the local economy from fuel shocks.
“Accelerating our transition to the adoption of EVs would help insulate the local economy from fuel shocks,” he said.
According to the senator, the Philippines imports about 96% to 99% of its oil requirements, making the economy sensitive to geopolitical events that disrupt supply and raise prices.
To support EV adoption, Gatchalian said the government should speed up the rollout of key infrastructure such as public charging stations to encourage both businesses and consumers to shift to electric mobility.
Under the government’s Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI), the country is targeting 7,300 EV charging stations by 2028, although the roadmap also outlines a more ambitious goal of 66,500 charging stations.
CREVI was adopted following the enactment of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) in May 2022, a law authored by Gatchalian that aims to support the nationwide adoption of electric vehicles.
