SEN. Risa Hontiveros on Monday sought the development of the electric vehicles (EVs) manufacturing sector to reduce the country’s dependence on imported oil.
Hontiveros made the call during the third public hearing of the Senate Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy Committee.
She said the country should move into EV parts manufacturing, not just assembly, to strengthen energy security.
“On EVs, one Filipino manufacturing stakeholder said they no longer plan to set up a plant here because Vietnam already has sufficient supply, but encouraged us to increase our EV capacity,” Hontiveros said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian echoed Hontiveros' proposal.
“I support the statements of Sen. Risa Hontiveros. The only way for us to break our addiction to oil is through electric vehicles. We are too dependent on imported oil, and EVs are the only solution,” Gatchalian said.
Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito appealed to government agencies to submit accurate reports to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
He said that reliable information is essential for making sound decisions, particularly during times of conflict.
"What I always say, my appeal to heads of agencies, especially during a crisis, is that we need to provide accurate reports to the president and to the public so that we can make proper decisions based on reliable information," said Ejercito in Filipino.
"In Malacañang, it is often the case that nobody wants to be the bearer of bad news, but we must tell what is really happening on the ground, the real situation, so that the decisions of our leadership and concerned agencies will be correct and appropriate," he said.
Sen. Joel Villanueva said government plans remain insufficient if Filipinos continue to struggle with rising prices.
“At the end of the day, plans are not enough; we must be able to clearly show that we are protecting livelihoods and reducing the burden of expenses and worries of our people,” Villanueva said.
He said Filipinos are already reeling from the impact of rising oil prices, transport fares, food costs, and everyday expenses.
He said these were "not abstract concerns but real problems faced by families."
Villanueva said government efforts must focus on protecting employment, ensuring stable income, and controlling the continuous rise in prices that directly affect households.
