The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) vowed to preserve or even improve on the gains that the domestic electric vehicle industry has achieved as it prepares for the forthcoming Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit 2015 this February 26-27, 2015.
EVAP was established in 2009 with the sole mission of promoting the use of electric vehicles in the country. EVAP President Rommel Juan said that since then, the EV industry has achieved modest gains and EVAP has committed to maintain the momentum. “The Philippine EV Summit which we started in 2011 has developed into the biggest annual EV event of the year. This has been the venue for most of the Filipino EV players and foreign counterparts to meet and forge business partnerships through joint ventures.”
For the fourth EV Summit, Juan said that these gains will be highlighted. Among them are various successful projects involving EVs in the Philippines which have been launched and has gained traction, such as the ETrike projects launched in Cavite, Mandaluyong and Boracay. The Cavite project even has a public charging station to complement the fleet of ETrikes deployed. The EJeepney transport programs have also gained headway in Makati, Filinvest City Alabang and even in the sprawling campuses of Ateneo and De La Salle.
Juan revealed that even Japanese firms, recognizing the potential of the country, have set up shop in the Philippines to manufacture electric motorcycles and tricycles. “We will also report on the gains we have achieved in the legislative field. Various versions of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Bills have been filed and are now being deliberated in both Houses of Congress. We are supporting these bills which will propose to grant fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for EV industry players and users.”
EVAP Executive Director Atty. Bodie Pulido explains that once the AFV Bill is passed, EV prices are expected to fall by as much as 30%. “Furthermore, the country stands to collect P1.67 Billion in taxes on top of generating some 10,000 new jobs in both upstream and downstream industries. And it gives us great pleasure to say that all these gains are mainly because of EVAPs actions and programs such as the EV Summit. We hope that we keep the momentum and even build on these gains. We have committed to implement more programs as well as continue the programs that have already started.”
EVAP will hold the annual Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit at the Meralco Multipurpose Hall, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City on February 26-27, 2015.
For inquiries, please contact the EVAP Secretariat at 9307003, mobile 09239432073 or email [email protected]. Or you may check out the EVAP Facebook page for more details.