Group bats for flexibility in new car devt program

AN industry group wants discretionary powers for the body that would oversee the implementation of the newly issued Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Development Program (CMVDP). Benjamin Sevilla, Philippine Automotive Competitiveness Council Inc. (PACCI) executive director, told reporters on Friday that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of CMVDP should be drafted in a way that it is “less restrictive” and so give the Motor Vehicle Industry Council more leeway to decide on pressing matters.

The Board of Investments is drafting the program’s IRR.

The agency, which aims to publish the IRR by next month, conducted on Friday consultations with the industry on the proposed rules.

Under Executive Order 877-A, the Motor Vehicle Industry Council shall serve as the central policy coordinating body and will be composed of nine government representatives—three from the Department of Trade and Industry, and one each from the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, of Energy, of Labor and Employment, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and Bureau of Customs—and four private sector representatives who would be appointed by the President for a two-year term.

Industry groups have already submitted their nominees for the Motor Vehicle Industry Council, including Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. president and Universal Motors Philippines Corp. chief executive Elizabeth Lee, PACCI and Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. president Michinobu Sugata, Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines Inc. officials Feliciano Torres and Eddie Jose, and Truck Manufacturers Association and Pilipinas Hino Inc. president Vicente Mills Jr. –Ben Arnold O. De Vera, Manila Times