THE QUEST FOR THE FILIPINO ELECTRIC CAR: TIME FOR A CABINET CLUSTER

THE QUEST FOR THE FILIPINO ELECTRIC CAR: TIME FOR A CABINET CLUSTER

My dear countrymen, some of us still remember the Ford Fiera and the Volkswagen Sakbayan—both assembled in the Philippines using foreign engines, yet proudly Filipino in spirit. Much like our iconic jeepneys, they were created with Filipino ingenuity, adapted for Filipino roads, and driven by Filipino resilience. So, what truly makes a car “Filipino”? Is it the engine? The body? The idea?

While we debated these questions, our Malaysian neighbors moved ahead. They built the Proton, a national car brand using a Mitsubishi engine but with a body and chassis designed and manufactured in Malaysia. They may not have built the engine, but they built the dream. Why haven’t we done the same?

The late Senator Raul Manglapus once pushed for the creation of a Filipino car, a dream we never fully achieved. But today, we have the chance to resurrect that dream—not by trying to replicate the cars of the past, but by boldly leaping into the future with electric vehicles (EVs).

And why not? The whole world is going electric. Internal combustion engines are slowly being phased out, while EVs are being fast-tracked for mass adoption. If we are to build a Filipino car, let it be electric. Let it be sustainable. And let it be ours.

Start with What We Have

We don’t need to start from scratch. We already have promising developments within our reach. Consider the Sikat II—a solar-powered car developed by De La Salle University (DLSU) students. It runs on electricity stored in batteries charged by solar panels. By all definitions, it is an electric vehicle. A solar EV, in fact.

Why not build on this? Why not fund and scale it up? Instead of spending on foreign technology or reinventing the wheel, we can invest in the brilliant minds of our students, engineers, and scientists. In the United States, the National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and development (R&D) in both public and private universities. Can we do the same here?

Elevate It to National Priority

Instead of just forming a Technical Working Group (TWG), I propose a more robust and coordinated response: the creation of a Cabinet Cluster for Electric Mobility and National Vehicle Development.

This cluster should not just be consultative. It must be executive in nature—capable of crafting policy, allocating funding, coordinating across agencies, and accelerating timelines. We are not talking about an isolated project. We’re talking about industrial policy, energy planning, transportation reform, environmental protection, and national pride—all rolled into one.

The proposed Cabinet Cluster could include the following:

• DOST – to spearhead scientific research and innovation
• DOE – to integrate EV development into the national energy plan, especially with renewable sources
• DOTr – to coordinate transport modernization programs and vehicle standards
• DTI – to handle manufacturing incentives and MSME support for local vehicle parts production
• DEPED and CHED – to align engineering curricula with EV technologies
• BOI and PEZA – to attract EV investments and support industrial clustering
• DENR – to oversee the environmental impact and regulatory framework
• DLSU and other private universities – to provide technical expertise and lead research projects

With proper guidance and coordination from the Office of the President, this cluster can lay down a national roadmap for building our own EV industry—starting with a proudly Filipino-designed electric vehicle.

Build on Existing Strengths

Let’s not forget our existing strengths. The Philippines has long had a grassroots vehicle-building industry, particularly for jeepneys and tricycles. Our local manufacturers have deep knowledge of chassis building, vehicle modification, and adaptation to local terrain.

What we lack in high-end car body stamping facilities, we can compensate for with fiberglass fabrication, 3D printing, and modular EV platforms. Fiberglass bodies are already being used in many countries for small electric vehicles. They're lighter, corrosion-resistant, and perfect for island environments.

Even more promising, we already have local companies producing electric motors. Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. (IMI) is producing electric motorcycles. ToJo Motors is building electric jeepneys and tricycles. The question is: how far are we from producing a mass-market Filipino EV? A car that’s 100% designed for the Filipino driver and the Filipino road.

With support from a Cabinet Cluster, perhaps not far at all.

More Than Just a Car

This is about more than just building a car. This is about building a national identity through innovation. A country that can build its own vehicle is a country that can command respect in manufacturing, technology, and energy development.

This is about sustainable mobility, industrial progress, and energy independence. This is about creating jobs, empowering local industries, and reducing our reliance on oil.

And yes, this is also about pride—national pride.

Final Thoughts

The Filipino car is not a dream that died with the jeepney era. It’s a dream waiting for a new engine—a clean, electric one. It’s a dream waiting not just for visionaries in universities and factories, but for decisive action from the highest levels of government.

Let us stop calling for piecemeal working groups. Let us organize a Cabinet Cluster for Electric Mobility and start building the future today—one Filipino EV at a time.

The Filipino car is within reach. Let’s drive it forward.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

09-06-2025