Arthur Fuentes

Local maufacturers exhibit their iterations of the e-jeep during the ASEAN Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Summit in Pasay City on Thursday. The first summit aims to strengthen the e-vehicle industry between ASEAN nations.  Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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Electric jeep

ABS-CBN News

<div> </div>MANILA – Francisco Motors Chairman Elmer Francisco urged the Department of Industry to prioritize support for local automakers in its 2026 budget instead of foreign firms, and to clarify the guidelines on some of its incentives programs.Francisco Motors chairman Elmer Francisco also questioned why the DTI announced the company’s interest in the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) incentives program during the agency’s Budget hearing in the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations last Aug. 27, when they had yet to discuss it with them.According to the government, the RACE program would offer fiscal support to participants of the program.“DTI mentioned in the Congressional Budget Hearing yesterday that they are in discussion with companies interested to join the RACE Program and even specifically mentioned Francisco Motors. My question is, who in Francisco Motors are they discussing with, if ever they truly are in discussion? It’s definitely not me, the Chairman, and also not my son, the President &amp; CEO,” Francisco said.“They can fund foreign manufacturers if they want, but why deprive local manufacturers from the same programs when they should even give premium and priority treatment to their own countrymen,” he said.During the Committee on Appropriations hearing, Kabataan Rep. Renee Co questioned why the DTI is already allotting P250 million for the RACE incentives program, when it has no guidelines yet and no Joint Administrative Order (JAO).Lawmakers also scrutinized the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS), which has a line item for fiscal support arrearages worth P225 million.Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque said the JAO and the guidelines for RACE are almost ready. She also said it is designed for all industry players.“We&#x27;re almost going to implement it already, we&#x27;re just fixing some other things. We just need to get some information. Kasi we want more companies to avail, like Francisco Motors and other local companies have expressed their interest to really avail of this program, may inaayos lang na additional info,” she said.The DTI said these projects aim to boost not just the big auto players in the industry but also the micro, small and medium enterprises. Auto parts sales produced by MSMEs will benefit from higher car sales from big firms, she added.“When they purchase cars, a lot of that goes to buying parts from the MSMEs,” Roque said.But Co questioned “Kung wala pang admin order (RACE) bakit pinopondohan na sa NEP 2026?”Co also asked DTI to clarify the intended beneficiaries of these programs.DTI Board of Investments (BOI) Executive Director Fe Del Mundo said that while CAR beneficiaries include 2 big players, it is open and transparent. Meanwhile, RACE, the agency said, will also be open to everyone once it becomes available.ABS-CBN News has reached out to the DTI-BOI office for comments on Francisco Motors’ recent statement, but has yet to receive a reply.

Francisco Motors Chairman Elmer Francisco urged the Department of Industry to prioritize support for local automakers in its 2026 budget instead of foreign firms.

Francisco Motors Chairman Elmer Francisco urged the Department of Industry to prioritize support for local automakers in its 2026 budget instead of foreign firms.

Local automaker urges DTI to prioritize homegrown firms; DTI says incentives available

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Local automaker urges DTI to prioritize homegrown firms; DTI says incentives available

ABS-CBN News

Published August 29, 2025 04:59 PM PHT

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