The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board on Wednesday approved the lifting of import duties on electric bicycles (e-bikes) and other electric vehicles (EVs) to promote cleaner transportation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The board, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., agreed to maintain the zero-tariff rate on 34 tariff lines of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) currently covered under Executive Order (EO) No. 12 (s. 2023).
The order, which temporarily modified import duties on EVs, will be expanded to include e-motorcycles, e-bicycles, and nickel metal hydride batteries.
The tariff on these items will also be reduced to zero until 2028.
NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the move is designed to “stimulate the electric vehicle market in the country, support the transition to emerging technologies, reduce our transport system’s reliance on fossil fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions attributed to road transport.”
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) welcomed the decision. “By making EVs and hybrid EVs more accessible and affordable, the government not only fosters sustainable mobility but also contributes to cleaner air and a healthier environment,” said Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
The DTI said it syncs with the country’s commitment to green transition and promotes eco-friendly transportation.
The expansion in the coverage of EO 12 also includes other types of EVs, particularly battery e-tricycles and quadricycles; battery, hybrid EV (HEV) and plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) jeepneys/buses; and HEV and PHEV cars and trucks; as well as completely knocked down (CKD) EVs for all types of vehicles.
EO 12 reduces import tariffs on electric vehicles to 0 percent for five years to attract investments and create a sustainable mobility network.
The NEDA Board also approved other programs and projects, including Facility for Accelerating Studies for Infrastructure (FAST-Infra) Project—a P2.75-billion project that will provide funding for formulating transportation master plans and developing big-ticket infrastructure projects.
It approved Infrastructure for Safer and Resilient Schools (ISRS) Project which is aimed at addressing the needs of schools damaged by natural disasters between 2019 and 2023. The project involves repairing, rehabilitating, and rebuilding school facilities outside Metro Manila. It will benefit 13,101 classrooms across 1,282 schools nationwide, equivalent to 741,038 students.
Meanwhile, the approval of the P26.62-billion Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project aims to improve land tenure security and stabilize the property rights of agrarian reform beneficiaries.
The project’s implementation period was extended from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2027.
It also approved the extension of the implementation period for the LRT Line East Extension Project. The P8.41-billion project includes the construction of Marikina and Antipolo stations. The extension in the implementation period aims to facilitate full disbursement to contractors and consultants and ensure the project’s quality.
“This series of approvals by the NEDA Board marks a significant step towards the country’s social and economic transformation,” Balisacan said. “As the nation moves forward, the decisions made today will play a crucial role in shaping a more prosperous and sustainable future for the Philippines.”
