MANILA – An official of the Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday expressed confidence that the government will achieve its goal to have 7,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations nationwide by 2028.
Patrick Aquino, director of the DOE’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau, said in a media interview that five public consultations have been conducted and another one is in the pipeline to check insights of property developers, building operators, and mall owners.
“What we’d like to assure the public is it’s a very difficult issuance because you are putting an obligation on private establishments to put up an infrastructure that the establishment may or may not use by themselves. So we are working closely with property developers, building operators, (and) mall owners to make sure that the issuance is responsive to the realities on the ground and the business sensibilities,” he said.
Aquino said the issuance is expected to be released within the year to encourage more people to shift to EVs by next year.
To date, only around 20 percent to 23 percent of the 7,000-charging station target is currently in place, he said.
Despite of this, Aquino said EV registration continues to increase and has reached nearly 100,000 so far this year.
“So, we’re confident that we will end the year above 100,000 electric vehicles registered. The sales are also following that trajectory if you monitor the reports coming in from CAMPI (Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc.) and TMA (Truck Manufacturers Association) and from what we’ve also monitored from the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines,” he said.
“So, we’re looking at 2026 as a banner year.”
Aquino traced this optimism partly to a growing shift in perception as people now see EVs as a viable alternative following the Middle East crisis’ impact on oil supply and prices.
Additionally, production overcapacity has led Chinese manufacturers to aggressively export affordable EVs to various Asian countries, including the Philippines, he added. (Joann Santiago-Villanueva/PNA)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES. Electric vehicles on display during the opening of the five-day first Bacolod Electric Vehicle Summit at Ayala Malls in Bacolod City on Oct. 26, 2026. Department of Energy director Patrick Aquino on Wednesday (Nov. 4) expressed confidence about utilization of more EVs, saying the policy on the construction of more EV charging stations in private buildings is expected to be released within the year. (PNA photo by Nanette Guadalquiver)
