MANILA, Philippines — Finding a place to charge an electric vehicle could soon become easier for Filipino motorists as the Department of Energy (DOE) prepares to require qualifying public and private buildings to allocate part of their parking spaces for electric vehicle charging stations.
The planned policy, expected to be released through a DOE circular, is aimed at turning more parking areas into potential charging hubs and addressing one of the biggest concerns facing current and prospective EV owners: where to charge when they are away from home.
Under Section 17 of Republic Act No. 11697, or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), public and private buildings with at least 20 parking slots are required to dedicate at least five percent of their parking spaces for EV charging stations. The upcoming DOE circular is expected to provide clearer guidance on how the requirement will be implemented.
A Major Step — But Not Every Building Faces the Same Challenges
DOE Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick Aquino said technical considerations have delayed the release of the implementing guidelines, particularly because buildings differ widely in age, design and electrical capacity.
Older condominiums and other existing structures, for example, may face more complicated installation requirements than newer developments designed with modern electrical systems in mind. The DOE’s challenge will be to expand access to charging infrastructure without imposing impractical requirements on buildings that may need significant upgrades.
That distinction is crucial. The policy is not simply about reserving parking spaces and placing chargers on them. Installing EV charging infrastructure can involve electrical capacity, safety standards, building layouts and coordination with power distributors.
The Numbers Show Why the DOE Is Moving
The Philippines’ charging network remains relatively small compared with the government’s ambitions. Recent reports cited by One News said there are around 1,600 registered EV charging stations, with most concentrated in Luzon, while the DOE is targeting roughly 7,000 charging stations by the end of 2028.
Earlier DOE figures also showed the country had just over 900 charging stations in 2025, underscoring how quickly the government wants the network to grow in just a few years.
The expansion is becoming more urgent as EV adoption gains momentum. The DOE has projected significant growth in the country’s electric vehicle population, with government planning increasingly focused on ensuring that infrastructure does not fall behind consumer demand.
Filipinos Are Slowly Warming Up to Electrified Vehicles
While conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles remain the preferred choice for many Filipino buyers, the shift toward electrified transport is becoming more visible.
A 2026 Deloitte consumer study cited in the latest report found that 62% of Filipino respondents still preferred an internal combustion engine vehicle for their next purchase, down from 68% a year earlier. Meanwhile, 20% preferred hybrids, 11% plug-in hybrids and 3% battery-electric vehicles.
The numbers suggest that while a full transition to electric vehicles may still be years away, consumer attitudes are beginning to change — and infrastructure could play a decisive role in how quickly that change accelerates.
The Bigger Problem: Building Chargers Is Not Always Easy
Expanding the country’s EV charging network is not just a matter of installing more machines.
Recent reporting has highlighted challenges ranging from permitting delays and varying local regulations to grid capacity and safety concerns. Industry observers have warned that inconsistent rules and lengthy approval processes could slow investment in charging infrastructure even as EV demand grows.
The DOE has also been working to streamline the regulatory process for charging station deployment, signaling that the government recognizes the need to make installations faster and easier if it hopes to meet its long-term targets.
What the New Rule Could Mean for Drivers and Property Owners
For EV owners, the potential benefit is obvious: more places to charge while shopping, working or visiting residential and commercial buildings.
For property developers and building owners, however, the upcoming circular could bring new compliance responsibilities and possible infrastructure costs. The details of exemptions, timelines, technical requirements and treatment of older buildings will be closely watched once the DOE formally releases the guidelines.
The policy could also reshape how developers think about parking itself. As electric vehicles become more common, access to reliable charging may eventually become as important a feature of a property as security, accessibility or available parking spaces.
The Bottom Line
The Philippines is moving closer to making EV charging infrastructure a more visible part of everyday life. But the real test will come after the DOE releases its circular: Can the country rapidly build a reliable and accessible charging network while addressing the technical and financial challenges facing older buildings and property owners?
For now, the direction is clear. The government wants more chargers, more access and faster EV adoption.
The next question is whether the infrastructure can catch up fast enough.
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