Electric motorcycle, pinabibigyan ng import incentives

Electric motorcycle, pinabibigyan ng import incentives

March 17, 2023 @ 5:59 PM 1 week ago


MANILA, Philippines – Hinimok ng ilang advocacy groups ang Malacañang na amyendahan ang kasalukuyang executive order na naggagawad ng import incentives upang isama rito ang electric motorcycle.

Sa ganitong paraan ay mabibigyan ng mas abot-kayang pamamaraan ang mga Filipino kasabay ng zero emission commuting.

“EO 12 as it is now , excludes motorcycles from import tax exemptions but covers vehicles with four wheels – which are afforded only by higher-income individuals,” pahayag ni Think tank Stratbase ADR Institute president Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit.

“Millions of working Filipinos opt for two and three-wheel vehicles because of their income limitations. They are the most vulnerable to the increase in prices of fuel and other basic commodities. Making electric motorcycles more affordable means no more worries on spiking petroleum prices and pollution free transportation for the masses,” dagdag pa niya.

Ayon kay Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) secretary general Felix Vitangcol, Executive Order 12, ang pagbibigay ng tax incentives sa pagbili ng four-wheeled electric vehicles ay patungo na sa tamang direksyon ngunit kulang pa.

“It is as if they forgot the glaring fact that motorcycles significantly contribute to air pollution in Metro Manila,” pahayag ni Vitangcol.

Sa ulat ng DENR, nasa 80% ng polusyon sa hangin ay mula sa petroleum fueled vehicles habang 20% ang mula sa ibang source.

Sa 2022 Statista data, mayroong 7.81 million ang nakarehistrong motorsiklo at traysikel sa bansa.

Enero ngayong taon ay pinirmahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang EO 12 na nagpapababa sa taripa sa ilang uri ng electric vehicles, mula 5 hanggang 30% ay ginawang 0% import duty.

Sa kabila nito, sakop pa rin ng 30% import duty ang two-wheeled electric motorcycles.

“It is true that electric-powered vehicles will correct air pollution, lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” sinabi ni Vitangcol.

“It is the government’s role to spearhead a shift to electric vehicles. EO 12 should be more inclusive, so that more Filipinos can access the more responsible, more environmentally viable option of commuting.”

“Consumers will experience a wide array of models to choose from depending on their preferences,” sinabi naman ni Edmund Araga, pangulo ng Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines, sabay-sabing magandang oportunidad ang naturang panawagan para sa mga EV enthusiasts.

Sinegundahan din ng CitizenWatch Philippines ang panawagan na isama sa EO 12 ang pagbili ng electric motorcycle. RNT/JGC