Former Secretary of National Defense and senatorial candidate Gilbert (GIBO) Teodoro said reducing the tariff rates of electric vehicles will promote the use of e-vehicles in the country.

Gibo Teodoro, who has vast experience in both the public and private sector, said lowering the tariff rates will cut retail prices for e-vehicles so that more Filipinos can afford these.

“Promoting the use of e-vehicles will help the country to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions amid the growing energy demand for the transportation sector. According to a study by Frost & Sullivan, an American business consulting firm that provides actionable insights to create a stream of innovative growth opportunities for companies, governments, and investors, the Philippines is one of the countries in Southeast Asia with a high inclination to buy e-vehicles,” Gibo Teodoro said.

“This readiness to buy e-vehicles could be translated to actual purchase if we have lower tariff for e-vehicles here,” the former Tarlac congressman said.

The tariff rate for e-vehicles from most favored nations is at 30 percent but e-vehicles from ASEAN are already duty-free.