MANILA – The government has proposed a more than sevenfold increase in funding for its electric vehicle program in 2027 as part of a broader drive toward cleaner transport and energy security, official budget documents showed Thursday.
Under the 2027 National Expenditure Program submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), funding for the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Program will surge 605 percent to P228.92 million, up from P32.46 million in 2026.
The expanded allocation will finance the installation of EV charging infrastructure across selected government agencies under the "EVision" project and build a national testing facility for electric vehicle charging systems.
"A secure, reliable, and sustainable energy sector is essential to economic growth and improving the quality of life of every Filipino," DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said, adding that the proposal supports cleaner technologies.
The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s clean-energy roadmap outlined in his State of the Nation Address. Marcos noted the government has eliminated tariffs on EVs through 2028 to cut market prices and mandated state agencies to prioritize electric models in fleet renewals.
The EV budget forms part of a proposed P5.58-billion allocation for the Department of Energy in 2027, a 25.7-percent jump over its 2026 budget.
To further bolster energy independence, the proposal also earmarks P1.36 billion—more than double the current allocation—for a seismic survey project to explore indigenous energy resources and reduce reliance on foreign fuel imports.