San juan city: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced that owners of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are not required to secure a certification from the Department of Energy (DOE) for exemption from the number coding traffic system in Metro Manila.

According to Philippines News Agency, DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez stated that the responsibility of obtaining DOE certification falls on dealers or manufacturers prior to selling the vehicles. This certification serves as the basis for issuing a vehicle's certificate of stock report, akin to a 'birth certificate' for vehicles. This requirement applies to all vehicles available in the market, not limited to just EVs or HEVs.

Lopez reassured the public that once their EVs and HEVs are certified, they will be exempt from the number coding system. This clarification comes amid the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group's (PNP-HPG) recent efforts to address the issue of vehicles with fake 'green plates,' which are designated for EVs and HEVs.

The DOTr, in collaboration with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), supports the PNP-HPG's crackdown on dealerships that misrepresent gas-powered vehicles as electric. LTO Executive Director Greg Pua reported that two vehicles, a Nissan Terra and a Nissan Navarra, were erroneously issued green plates based on sales invoices from the dealership labeling them as electric or green vehicles.

Pua mentioned that corrective actions are underway, including issuing proper plates to the affected vehicle owners and summoning the responsible dealerships. He also warned owners that the use of fake green plates violates Joint Administrative Order 2014-001, which could lead to penalties and potential revocation of their licenses.