ENVIRONMENTAL groups underscored the need for the government to provide more incentives to boost the use of electric vehicles (EVs), adding that a shift to EVs is crucial in mitigating the impact of climate change.
In a joint statement, The Climate Reality Project (TCRP) Philippines and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) said that the country must ensure the transition to renewable energy and enable public infrastructure for people's mobility.
The groups backed the issuance of Executive Order No. 12 where tariff rates for EVs and other components were modified to help promote the shift from gas-fueled to electrically-propelled vehicles.
"The shift to electric vehicles is vital in addressing the prevailing climate crisis. However, electrification is only ideal when the source of electrification is renewable energy and when we can provide affordable, stable, and flexible electricity rates for every Filipino household," TCRP Branch Manager Nazrin Camille Castro said.
Under EO 12, EVs receive tax breaks with the exclusion of electric motorcycles which are still subject to 30 percent import duty.
Castro cited data from the Statista Research Department which showed that the power production in the Philippines is still dominated by coal at 47.6 percent, followed by other fossils at 18 percent, and gas at 10.7 percent, which totals 76.3 percent.
She added that various types of renewable energy generation like wind, solar, bioenergy, hydro, and other renewables share at 23.7 percent of the country's total power source.
"We can accelerate the renewable energy transition by ending policies that allow fossil fuel companies to pass the higher costs of imported coal on to the consumers and create an enabling environment for more renewable energy producers," Castro added.
She said that the country should also fix its car-centric infrastructure which makes up 80 percent of road spaces by making it sustainable and climate-friendly by creating more bike lanes, walkways, and green spaces.
"We need to approach electrification of vehicles not just through market incentives but address vital points where electric vehicles' potential can really address hardworking commuters' needs which include secure, flexible, reliable, and affordable energy via renewables; and systematically address congestion by enabling public infrastructure for people's mobility, not cars," Castro added.
She said the shift to EVs will help mitigate the effects of climate change as the country targets to go full electric by 2040.