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Too little, too late? Manila’s billion-dollar bid to ignite its sputtering EV industry

A late start and an underdeveloped supply chain could blunt the Philippines’ EV ambitions

    • Under the Philippines’ new policy, up to four EV models will be provided with as much as 15 billion pesos each in fiscal support, in the form of tax payment certificates.
    • Under the Philippines’ new policy, up to four EV models will be provided with as much as 15 billion pesos each in fiscal support, in the form of tax payment certificates. PHOTO: EPA
    Rachel Ranosa-Joshi
    Published Wed, Aug 5, 2026 · 10:00 AM

    [MANILA] After decades of falling behind in automotive assembly, the Philippines is mounting an aggressive bid to break into South-east Asia’s electric vehicle manufacturing arena with an incentive plan designed to de-risk high upfront capital expenditure for global automakers.

    President Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed an executive order on Jul 29 for the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (Evis) – a 60-billion-peso (US$1 billion) fiscal package to incentivise EV makers to build new factories and hit higher production targets in the Philippines.

    The plan, it is hoped, will bolster the country’s standing against industrial juggernauts such as Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.