(Ni DANG SAMSON-GARCIA)

IPINANUKALA ng Department of Energy (DOE) na magtayo ang gobyerno ng mga libreng charging stations para sa mga e-vehicles upang mas marami ang mahikayat na lumipat sa paggamit nito.

Ginawa ni DOE Director Patrick Aquino ang panukala sa pagdinig ng Senado sa mga usapin hinggil sa paggamit ng e-vehicles.

“Free charging is something that we should seriously consider. Based on our studies, other jurisdictions were able to jumpstart that with government taking a more proactive role in having and offering free charging facilities, at least at the onset,” saad ni Aquino.

Kabilang sinimulang talakayin ang mga panukala para sa pagbibigay ng insentibo sa paglipat sa electric vehicles, tulad ng Senate Bill No 174 o proposed Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act; Senate Bill No. 472 o proposed Green Vehicles Incentives Act; Senate Bill No. 479 o proposed Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles Incentives Act; Senate Bill No. 538 o proposed Green Vehicles Incentives Act; at Senate Bill No. 638 o proposed Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Incentives Act.

Kabilang din sa ikinukunsidera ng DOE ang free parking, exception sa number coding o traffic management scheme at five-year registration.

Kinumpirma naman ng Department of Finance (DOF) na nakapaloob na sa 2017 Investment Priorities Plan ang pagbuo ng free charging stations, kabilang na ang para sa electric vehicles.