The House of Representatives (HRep), led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, on Tuesday approved House Bill (HB) 10960 on second reading. This bill seeks to make sustainable transportation more affordable and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
HB 10960, entitled “An Act Providing for the Tax and Duty Treatment of Electric Vehicles, amending for the purpose Republic Act 11697, otherwise known as the ‘Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act,’” was principally authored by House Ways and Means chairperson Rep. Joey Salceda together with Representatives Margarita Nograles-Almario and Midy Cua.
The bill specifies that an electric vehicle (EV) includes two-, three—, and four-wheeled vehicles or any other vehicle equipped with at least one electric drive for propulsion. HB 10960 also provides that the importation of entirely built units of EVs shall be subject to a tariff rate of zero percent for five years from the date of effectivity of the bill once enacted.
The House also approved on second reading (HB) 11072 enlarging the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Company Inc. to cover the areas of Davao City, Panabo City, Tagum City, the Island Garden City of Samal, and the municipalities of Asuncion, Carmen, Dujali, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, Santo Tomas and Talaingod in Davao del Norte, and in Maco, Davao de Oro.
To ensure the uninterrupted supply of electricity in the said franchise areas, the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (NORDECO) is temporarily authorized to operate the existing distribution system within the aforementioned franchise area and implement its existing power supply agreements with generation companies that are provisionally or finally approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission until the Davao Light and Power Company has established or acquired its distribution system and entirely takes over the operations in the said expanded area.
ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro also delivered a privileged speech lamenting the situation of persons with disabilities (PWDs), particularly in schools.
According to her, PWDs face great challenges because schools lack the facilities to address their needs, such as books in braille, among others, despite the passage of Republic Act 7277, or the Magna Carta for PWDs, and the Philippines’ signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of PWDs.
Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson-Meehan presided over Tuesday’s plenary proceedings.