Marcos pushes for local EV production, starting with e-trikes
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that the government will push efforts to develop locally manufactured electric vehicles, starting with the production of a fully Filipino-made e-tricycle and eventually moving toward the development of electric jeepneys.
Marcos reiterated the government's commitment during his visit to automotive parts manufacturer MD Juan Enterprises, Inc. in Caloocan City, a beneficiary of the Department of Science and Technology’s e-mobility program, where he assessed its facilities and capabilities and determined the additional equipment and assistance needed to support local electric vehicle production.
MD Juan Enterprises manufactures machine-pressed metal parts and restoration kits for vintage, military, and civilian jeeps. They also manufactured the first-ever electric jeepney for public transport, as well as e-tricycles.
The president said the government is also looking into how the DOST and other national agencies can help strengthen the company’s capabilities.
“Kaya tinitingnan namin ang mga facilities, ano yung nandito na, ano na yung mga kulang, ano pa yung mga kulang na susuportahan ng ating DOST, ng national government para makapagawa na tayo ng electric vehicle dito sa Pilipinas," Marcos said.
“And together with our technical consultants, I believe that we will soon be seeing a Filipino electric vehicle tricycle. At maybe down the road, makagawa na tayo ng jeepney,” he continued.
Rommel Juan, chief executive officer of MD Juan Enterprises, said that the company is committed to supporting the shift to electric vehicles and is willing to help produce e-tricycles for local government units.
"We're really an advocate of the electric vehicle campaign... We're open to [helping] to produce these electric tricycles and supply to the LGUs as needed," Juan said.
Marcos said building a homegrown electric vehicle industry could lessen the country’s reliance on imported fuel and contribute to greater stability in the transportation sector, and that it could also create more sustainable income opportunities for transport workers.
He added that the government’s next priority is to provide the additional equipment needed to begin EV production.
The DOST had earlier urged wider adoption of Filipino-made e-vehicles amid the country’s energy emergency, citing the need to leverage local e-mobility innovations as energy supplies are disrupted by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
