Huge incentives for green vehicles in Zubiri proposal

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Manufacturers, assemblers, and importers of "green vehicles" are expected to receive government incentives when the Green Vehicles Incentives Act is approved by Congress.

In his Senate Bill 1524, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri is pushing for government to grant incentives to manufacturers, assemblers, and importers of green vehicles to reduce the problem in air pollution.

The proposed law aims to encourage the use of clean energy sources for vehicles, both for public and private use, by providing incentives for the manufacture, assembly, conversion and importation of electric, hybrid and other green vehicles.

Under the law, manufacturers, assemblers and importers will be exempted from paying excise taxes and duties for nine years.

Electric, hybrid and other green vehicles will also be exempted from paying Motor Vehicle User's Charges (MVUCs) imposed by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for nine years.

Zubiri also wants registration of green vehicles to be prioritized by the LTO.

Public utility vehicle (PUV) operators of electric, hybrid and other green vehicles will also be given priority by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in the issuance of franchises to operate, as well as their renewal.

Zubiri likewise wants green vehicles to be exempted from the MMDA's Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UWRP) or Number-Coding Scheme.

The bill, meanwhile, mandates new business and commercial establishments to provide exclusive parking spaces free of charge for all green vehicles.

Building permits will be issued for the construction of establishments when the owner submits an affidavit that there will be free parking spaces provided for green vehicles.