Private sector gives government 30 days to finish IRR for MVDP

MANILA, Philippines – After missing the deadline to create the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Development Plan (MVDP), the private sector has given the government 30 days to come up with the IRR.

In an interview with reporters, Philippine Automotive Competitiveness Council Inc. (PACCI) executive director Benjamin Sevilla said that although the Board of Investments (BOI) missed the Aug. 31 deadline for the completion of the IRR, they are confident that they are making substantial progress.

“There is substantial progress leading to the resolution of the IRR. The BOI is hard at work at seeing to it that it can be done by the end of September,” Sevilla said.

The government has asked local car manufacturers to submit a list of demands to ensure additional investment in auto assembly in the next five years.

The BOI said that they are waiting for local car manufacturers to give them a list of what they need before investing further in the country. The BOI is in the process of crafting the Motor Vehicle Development Program II (MVDP). This is a supplement to the Comprehensive MVDP.

The BOI said that the investments in the auto industry must be made within five years or else the Philippines will be left behind in terms of auto assembly.

The BOI was unable to meet the Aug. 31 deadline for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the comprehensive MVDP because auto importers led by Hyundai Asia Resources is asking the BOI to give them two weeks to give their input in the IRR.

BOI managing head Cristino L. Panlilio said they have agreed to give the Alliance of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) the two weeks that they were asking for. The members of AVID met with Panlilio last Friday. During the meeting they manifested that they would like to give recommendations on the IRR.