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imports are hurting workers in the local vehicle manufacturing industry following an evaluation of a petition filed by the Philippine Metalworkers’ Alliance.

While the safeguard measure is being imposed, the DTI said the country is one of the most open among the larger Southeast Asian member countries.

For instance, it said Thailand imposes an 80 percent Most Favored Nation tariff rate on completely built-up units originating outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Non-tariff measures on motor vehicles in Indonesia have discouraged imports and as a result, imported vehicles account for only seven percent of that market.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, locally assembled LCVs account for only seven percent of the domestic market.

With modernized incentives being made available under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises bill, as well as other reforms being pushed including amendments to the Public Service Act, Lopez said the DTI is hopeful of reviving the automotive industry and creating a more attractive investment climate.

NPI is leasing the manufacturing facility owned by the Taiwanese company Yulon Group.

As the plant would remain intact after NPI closes its assembly operations, Lopez is hopeful it could be used by another firm for local vehicle manufacturing when the business climate improves after the pandemic.