Powering Up the Future: Philippines Drives ASEAN EV Leadership

09 September 2025 Manila, Philippines — Mober, a frontrunner in green logistics services in the Philippines, strengthened the country’s push for commercial EV leadership in Southeast Asia (SEA) when it hosted the second edition of World Electric Vehicle (EV) Day Forum Philippines at the EDSA Shangri-La Manila.

Themed “Powering Up the Philippines to ASEAN Leadership Through Commercial EV,” the forum convened leading government agencies and industry leaders to explore the opportunities in positioning the Philippines as an important player in the ASEAN commercial EV landscape.

Dennis Ng, Founder and CEO of Mober, underscored the company’s commitment to advancing the commercial EV ecosystem through its initiatives on innovation, infrastructure, and workforce development. “From lady drivers to autonomous EVs, from battery swapping to renewable hubs, Mober is not just adapting to the future. We are building it,” said Ng.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, principal author of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA, expressed his support for the sector through a special video message during the forum.

“Sustainable transportation for Filipinos has always been close to my heart. This was the driving force behind EVIDA, which was passed into law in 2022. Rest assured that as its principal author, I remain committed to strengthening policies that support the growth of the EV industry,” Gatchalian said.

One of the highlights of the forum was the interactive session, “Myth Busters with the EV Guy,” which engaged participants in breaking down misconceptions about commercial EVs. The segment featured Ng and Liveable Cities Philippines Chairman Bill Luz addressing common concerns, such as battery efficiency and safety, range anxiety, charging infrastructure, and the vehicles’ performance during weather calamities like flooding.

Panel tracks also anchored the forum, featuring thought leaders from the government and business sectors.

The first panel, “Building the Commercial EV Ecosystem: Exploring Renewable Energy and Workforce Development in Powering the Philippines’ Sustainable Logistics,” was moderated by Luz and featured Engr. Andresito Ulgado, Officer-in-Charge Chief Science Research Specialist under the Electric Vehicle Industry Management Division of the Department of Energy (DOE); Nelly Dillera, Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Community-Based Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); Elvin Garcia, Acting Chief of the Heavy Industries Division, Manufacturing Industries Service, under Board of Investments from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Morris Zhou, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Berde Renewables Inc.; Marie Torres, Director of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Impact at Sarona Asset Management; and Miguel Bermundo, Vice President for People and Sustainability at Mober.

Discussions underscored the crucial role of government-private sector collaboration in developing the renewable energy infrastructure, supportive policies, and skilled workforce needed to sustain the transition to green mobility.

The second panel, “Building Resilient and Responsible Supply Chains,” moderated by Bong Marcelo, Vice President for Operations and Sales at Mober, gathered experts from leading corporations. Panelists featured Jade Hugo, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Mober; Severino De Robles, Fulfillment Business Developer at IKEA Philippines; Ernie Carlos, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ajinomoto; and CJ Garcia, Vendor Management Lead at Monde Nissin.

Business leaders emphasized that the shift to green mobility is no longer optional but a business imperative, noting that companies that integrate EV logistics into their operations are better positioned to meet global sustainability standards while remaining cost-competitive in the long term.

“This year’s forum showcased that the transition to electric mobility is more than the presence of EVs on the roads, but it’s about building the ecosystem that supports its viability in the country. We are optimistic that by gathering some of the most influential enablers in the industry, we have laid the groundwork for stronger collaboration and a clearer roadmap to position the Philippines as a key player in the ASEAN commercial EV landscape,” Ng added.

Mober inaugurated the forum last year as a testament to its vision to lead the country’s green logistics. It was held in partnership with media outlets, including Manila Bulletin, BusinessMirror, The Manila Times, Manila Standard, and Malaya Business Insight.