The Department of Energy (DOE) is moving to cut red tape for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, pushing for a joint memorandum circular with key government agencies to dramatically shorten permitting timelines as EV adoption gains momentum nationwide.
DOE Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick T. Aquino said the agency is working with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to streamline approvals that currently take at least six months.
“Right now, what we’re seeing is it’s at least six months just to get the permitting,” Aquino said. “We want to apply the same framework we used for net metering, where approvals were reduced from 20 days to 10 days through a joint issuance.”
The proposed order would introduce time-bound approvals and parallel processing among agencies, replacing the current sequential system that developers say delays investments and slows the rollout of charging infrastructure.
The reform comes as EV adoption continues to accelerate. Cumulative EV registrations reached 60,906 units in 2025, more than double the 24,286 units recorded in 2021. First-quarter EV sales this year climbed 36.2 percent from a year earlier to about 11,800 units.
Aquino said total EV registrations could approach 100,000 by yearend if current growth trends persist.
The rapid increase in EV ownership is intensifying the need for more charging facilities. The Philippines currently has about 1,600 charging points nationwide, a fraction of the government’s target of 7,000 charging stations by 2028.
For the DOE, speeding up permits is becoming as important as incentives in attracting private investment. Without a faster rollout of charging infrastructure, officials warn that the country risks falling behind demand and slowing its transition to cleaner, more sustainable transportation.
