EV budget gets 7-fold boost

A seven-fold increase in funding for the government’s electric vehicle program is being proposed for 2027 as the administration moves to expand charging infrastructure and testing facilities for the growing EV market.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is proposing ₱228.92 million for the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Program (EVIDP), up 605.17 percent from the ₱32.46 million allocated under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The proposed funding is included in the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) and will finance two key initiatives—the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Scoping, Implementation and Operationalization in Selected Government Offices (EVision) Project and a new Electric Vehicle Charging System Testing Facility.

The EVision Project will expand charging stations in selected government offices, while the testing facility is expected to improve the government’s ability to assess the safety and performance of EV charging systems.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the investments are intended to make electric mobility more practical in government operations and encourage wider adoption of cleaner transport.

“Consistent with our clean energy drive, we have encouraged the adoption of electric vehicles. We have removed all tariffs on EVs until 2028 to bring down market prices, and government has also been mandated to prioritize electric vehicles in their refleeting plans,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said in his 2026 State of the Nation Address.

The EVIDP funding is part of the proposed ₱5.58-billion budget for the Department of Energy (DOE) next year, representing a 25.74-percent increase from its ₱4.43-billion allocation under the 2026 GAA.

DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert de Leon said the proposed spending reflects the government’s efforts to strengthen energy security while accelerating the shift toward cleaner technologies.

“A secure, reliable, and sustainable energy sector is essential to economic growth and improving the quality of life of every Filipino. Accordingly, the proposed FY 2027 budget invests in projects that strengthen the country’s energy security while expanding access to electricity and supporting the transition to cleaner energy technologies,” De Leon said.

The proposed DOE budget also includes ₱1.36 billion for the Philippine Gradiometry and Seismic Survey Project, more than twice the ₱627.50 million allocated in 2026.

The project will support the exploration and assessment of potential indigenous energy resources, with the government seeking to develop more domestic energy sources and reduce reliance on imported fuel over the longer term.