Auto industry not happy with revised car program

MANILA, Philippines – The local automotive industry slammed the government for not laying down concrete measures as to how the government will encourage car makers to continue to manufacture in the country.

“Right now all I see is a council and the adoption of current policies,” Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) president Elizabeth H. Lee said during the public hearing for the proposed revised MVDP held at the Board of Investments (BOI) Friday afternoon.

According to Lee, the proposed revised Motor Vehicle Development Plan (MVDP) only contains the creation of a council but it does not enumerate specific ways to make investing in the automotive industry attractive.

“What do we offer here in the Philippines as a compelling reason to not only sustain but also to expand investments,” Lee said. “The council is not enough,” she stressed.

Lee said that her brand, Universal Motor Corp. (UMC), is seriously looking at the Philippines as an investment site. Unfortunately she said that there is nothing in the MVDP that would make a company say that they want to invest in the Philippines.

BOI executive director Efren Leano clarified that they will still improve the proposed revised MVDP. Leano explained that they only included general terms in the revised MVDP because they would like the private sector to give the details.

“Tell us what kind of support you need,” Leano urged the industry.

He said the specifics will be placed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the revised MVDP.

Leano defended their decision to put up a council because he said it will help address the complaints of manufacturers that it takes a long time to process papers. He said the council will be a hub for all the businesses in the automotive industry.

For his part Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (MVPMAP) Executive Director Antonio A. Gimenez proposed that there should be a focal point for the revised MVDP like the creation of the econo-van of the Philippines.

He said that the Philippine Brand Vehicle must comfortably seat five people because that is the average number of family members. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)