(Photo credit: RTVM) 

QUEZON CITY (PIA) - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday encourages vehicle owners in the country to shift from fuel vehicles to electric ones to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

This is part of the efforts being undertaken by the national government in fulfilling its commitment to the Paris Agreement.

Under the treaty, the Philippines pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent from 2020 to 2030.

“Considering our continued dependence on imported fuels and volatility of oil products in the world market, it is only sensible that we encourage the shift to electric vehicles. We not only get savings in fuel and gas, but also significantly lessen our greenhouse gas emissions and champion sustainability in our day-to-day activities,” Marcos said in the launching of Dongfeng Motors in Pasig City.

Motorists who will switch to electric vehicles will get to enjoy some perks and incentives as well.  

“Aside from having priority in the registration and renewal of registration of vehicles in the Land Transportation Office, owners will also get to enjoy exemption from the number coding scheme amongst others,” he said.

In the Philippines, the transportation sector is the largest source of energy-related greenhouse gas emission.

President Marcos said that the government is working on increasing the number of electric vehicles in the country.

“To boost this number, we are working on the gradual shift to electric vehicles for public transportation.”

“As of late 2020, there are just around 8,800 electric vehicles in the country. The government aims to increase the share of electric vehicle to 10%, hopefully 50% by 2040,” he added.

Currently there are more than 400 electric public utility vehicles in almost 29 routes nationwide. (PIA-NCR)