A group that had been advocated for the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country has asked that the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to include  e-motorcycles in their executive order (EO) that will be granted lower tariff rates for EVs, their parts, and components. 

It will  be recalled that in January 2023, EO No. 12 — which orders a review of the lower tariff rates for EVs and their components — is up for its mandatory review starting Wednesday, February 21. 

As per the impending review, the Electric Kick Scooter (EKS) Philippines had asked the NEDA Chief Arsenio Balisacan to make amendments that will now include e-motorcycles. 

"It's important to give them what's due them. We're looking forward and we also laud the humility of the NEDA, Rep. Salceda, and some people in the executive branch that they saw that this review is an opportunity to improve what has been delivered before," EKS co-founder Tim Vargas said. 

"But hopefully, moving forward, we need to have more stakeholder engagement and try to understand further rather than making this impulsive decision on just hastily passing things rather than being more constructive," Vargas added.

Under EO 12, the e-motorcycles will be subjected to a 30% tariff rate, as only two-wheeled e-vehicles not exceeding 250w and with a maximum speed of 25 kilometer per hour have 0% import duties.