Sen. Risa Hontiveros is pushing for the Philippines to build its own electric vehicle industry as rising fuel costs expose the country’s deep dependence on imported oil.
Hontiveros called on the government to move beyond assembling electric vehicles and develop a domestic parts manufacturing sector, raising the proposal during a hearing of the Senate Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy Committee. She said expanding local production is necessary to reduce reliance on imported fuel and strengthen long-term energy security.
She pointed to missed opportunities in the regional supply chain and warned that limited manufacturing capability could hold back the country’s position in the growing EV market.
“On EVs, one Filipino manufacturing stakeholder said they no longer plan to set up a plant here because Vietnam already has sufficient supply, but encouraged us to increase our EV capacity,” Hontiveros said.
Her proposal focuses on building a more complete EV ecosystem, including the production of key components, to support sustained industry growth and reduce exposure to global oil price fluctuations.
Lawmakers at the hearing backed the proposal, highlighting the urgency of shifting toward alternative energy solutions as the country continues to rely heavily on imported oil. The discussion centered on how local industry development can help stabilize supply and support long-term cost management.
The push forms part of broader efforts in the Senate to examine structural responses to the country’s energy challenges, with attention on policies that can strengthen domestic capacity and reduce vulnerability to external shocks.
