Marcos backs homegrown EV production, starting with e-trikes

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has expressed hope that the Philippines will soon manufacture its own electric vehicles as he vowed to support the industry to reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products that are vulnerable to price shocks.

Marcos visited the Caloocan-based MD Juan Enterprises Inc., a Filipino-owned automotive parts manufacturer specializing in machine-pressed replacement metal parts, body tubs, kits and chassis for classic military and civilian jeepneys.

He inspected the machinery used by the company to determine what support the science department can provide so electric vehicles can be manufactured in the country.

“We know that our objective is to lessen the dependence on petroleum products from other places to make our economy and the livelihood of our transport workers more stable,” Marcos told reporters after the inspection.

“So the next step is to put in some of the new equipment that is still necessary for the production of the electric vehicle. We know what to do. And together with our technical consultants, I believe that we will soon be seeing a Filipino electric vehicle, tricycle and maybe down the road, we can make a jeepney,” he added.

MD Juan Enterprises is a beneficiary of the science department’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program, which provides financial assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises to improve operations, enhance productivity and create more jobs.

Romel Juan, the company’s chief executive officer, said the business has been operating for about 60 years, which was founded by his grandfather, Maximino Dionisio Juan. It started by producing replacement and restoration parts for American military and civilian jeeps and now serves customers in the US, Europe and other international markets.

Juan said the company has been preserving the jeepney’s Filipino heritage as he highlighted its distinction as a manufacturer supplying jeep restoration products to the international market.

“Only the Philippines is manufacturing these kinds of products worldwide. We’re very proud of that, we’re very proud to be dollar producers for the country,” Juan said.

Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said the government’s financial assistance would increase the number of quality jobs, boost production and create livelihood.

“We are giving our countrymen dignity through financial assistance that they will repay and through training and technical guidance,” he said.