Co-designing the future: The 5 priorities driving women in the Philippine e-mobility agenda

Photo 1: During the interactive exercise, participants provided feedback and recommendations under different categories (Check Out, Add to Cart, or Return) for various government agencies.

Representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board of Investments (BOI) presented their existing gender-related initiatives during the open discussion. Alongside these agencies, the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) were represented in a “Check Out, Add to Cart, or Return” exercise, where participants provided feedback and recommendations on how existing programs and initiatives could better respond to the needs of women and other underserved groups in the e-mobility sector.

Photo 2: The mechanics of the interactive exercise during the Kapihan.

Beyond identifying challenges, the Kapihan  – helped equip the key government agencies with grassroots insights to inform their mandatory 5% Gender and Development (GAD) plans and budgets. From evaluating existing public initiatives through the interactive exercise, five clear priorities emerged that aim to help inform the strategic use of public GAD funds into concrete and inclusive e-mobility solutions.

Photo 3: Participants share their experiences commuting and the improvements they hope to see during an ice-breaker exercise.

Support for women entrepreneurs and MSMEs

The first identified priority during the open discussion was for government partners to make financial mechanisms, such as the E-Transport Loans from the DTI, directly accessible to grassroots enterprises and informal cooperatives. This stems from the gap wherein women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) -- including informal transport operators like elderly women pedicab drivers -- face financial and administrative barriers to entering the e-mobility value chain. 

Crucially, support programs must incorporate incentives that account for women’s unpaid care responsibilities through targeted mechanisms. Existing government initiatives already provide a strong foundation through MSME business establishment support programs, financial literacy programs, shared service facilities, and fair trade initiatives. Participants encouraged building on these efforts by making support services more visible, accessible, and responsive to women's needs.

Photo 4: Participants from mobility-related civil society organizations provided key perspectives on accessibility during the Kapihan. Aura Pineda, from Abot-Kamay ng mga may Kapansanan Ang Pagunlad ng Pasigueño (AKKAPP) Pasig Federation, Incorporated, shares her insights on the commuting experiences of persons with disabilities.

Build inclusive infrastructure and accessible mobility

Creating opportunities for women in transport must go hand in hand with making the transport system safe, seamless, and physically accessible. For the second identified priority, participants called for low-floor public utility vehicles, ramps, wide entryways, and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks that accommodate persons with disabilities, older adults, and caregivers. 

Participants also highlighted the role of light electric vehicles (LEVs) and e-trikes in supporting first-and-last-mile mobility for women, caregivers, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). Discussions emphasized the need for consultative policy review, clear safety guidelines, and protected road infrastructure so that small-scale electric vehicle (EV) users can travel safely.

Beyond physical design, the session highlighted opportunities to train women as electric PUV operators and drivers, drawing inspiration from successful international models like Nepal’s all-women safa tempo fleets.

Photo 5: The Kapihan also welcomed participants from transport cooperatives to share their perspectives from the transport operations side.

Expand charging into public spaces 

Electrification efforts must ensure charging infrastructure is practical and available for everyday commuters and diverse transport modes. Discussions underscored a demand for DOE-accredited charging infrastructure placed in open, free public spaces rather than restricted to private shopping malls with limited operating hours. 

Participants stressed that charging networks must be powered by renewable energy and explicitly designed to serve a diverse range of vehicles, including e-bikes, e-trikes, and motorized wheelchairs and personal mobility vehicles. They further called for stronger coordination agencies and more accessible processes to help communities and businesses participate in the transition.

Photo 6: A few entries from participants for TESDA, suggesting training programs and priority recipients.

Invest in skills for the future workforce 

Addressing the gender gap in transport occupations requires starting at the vocational level, where women represented just 26% of TESDA transport enrollees in 2024 that may be attributed to stereotypes, safety concerns, and potential hiring biases. To counteract these barriers, participants emphasized expanding specialized TESDA scholarships and inclusive apprenticeships for women and PWDs. Technical programs should focus on upskilling informal transport workers, such as enabling transitions from automotive mechanics to EV repair, while encouraging transport cooperatives operating along designated green routes to employ female technicians.

Photo 7: John Steward Carcosia from DTI addresses the recommendations and queries for the agency that were gathered during the interactive exercise.

Embed gender-responsive metrics into investment and policy

For women to thrive as leaders, workers, and investors within the EV ecosystem, gender considerations must be embedded directly into national policy frameworks and investment decisions. Participants called on government partners to track sex-disaggregated data and establish gender-specific indicators to ensure industry policies and GAD programs are truly inclusive.
 
Furthermore, participants noted that EV manufacturing, local assembly, and charging supply chains under Republic Act 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) must extend beyond major urban hubs to reach regional and rural communities.

Photo 8: Executive Director for Industry Development Services Corazon Halili-Dichosa presents the existing programs and priorities of BOI, relating to gender inclusivity and women engagement.

Listening Before Building 

A central theme of the session was that meaningful policies begin by listening to the people they are intended to serve.

Demonstrating the value of open dialogue between policymakers and community stakeholders, (BOI) Industry Development Services Executive Director Corazon Halili-Dichosa reflected on the agency's ongoing journey in integrating gender into industrial policy:

“At the BOI, we usually work with those who are in the industry, so we listen intently to their suggestions to improve the government and the policies. So, what can we do together to make it happen? As the lead [implementing entity] of the e-mobility ASAP Project, this is something we always emphasize: we need to accelerate the growth of women-led enterprises. We need to encourage, promote, and support women-led businesses and firms in taking part in investment opportunities.” Halili-Dichosa said.

“We can also access funds from the relevant projects and programs to expand and scale their operations within the e-mobility sector, amplify women’s voices in key conversations, and create dedicated platforms for women leaders like this Kapihan. We can also support women-led networks in participating in e-mobility dialogues, enabling them to share their lived experiences and help shape decisions across the sector.” she added.

Her remarks underscored the importance of giving agency leaders a dedicated space to connect high-level policy frameworks with the everyday realities of women on the ground. 

Photo 9: Mark Mercene, Project Associate for the e-mobility ASAP Project, orients participants on the mechanics of the interactive exercise.

What's Next?

The insights captured during this session will inform the recommendations to government partners and define the strategic focus of the Women in E-Mobility Network.  
Heading into its final year, the Project will continue driving dialogues and strengthening women’s engagement, reinforcing that an accessible, responsive e-mobility sector is a collective responsibility that begins by listening and co-designing together.
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The e-mobility ASAP Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is a joint effort of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Board of Investments (BOI), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in partnership with the Clean Air Asia-led Consortium. This Consortium comprises De La Salle University (DLSU), Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI), and Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP).