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MEDIA RELEASE
17 September 2026
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY STATEMENT
The Department of Energy (DOE) recognizes the safety concerns raised by Montenegro Lines in temporarily restricting the boarding of electric and hybrid vehicles on its vessels following a recent maritime incident. The Department views this as a prudent step while broader safety standards for electric mobility at sea continue to be developed.
The DOE is actively taking part in the ongoing development of the 2026 Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Fire Code, working with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to ensure that emerging risks involving electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries are properly addressed.
The Department is likewise coordinating with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on appropriate safety protocols for the carriage of electric and hybrid vehicles onboard vessels. This joint effort is aimed at establishing clear, science-based, and uniform requirements that protect passengers and vessels without unnecessarily restricting the growth of electric mobility in the country.
"Safety must come first," Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said. "We want Filipinos to trust that riding a ferry with an electric vehicle is just as safe as riding with any other vehicle. We are working closely with the Bureau of Fire Protection and MARINA to get the standards right, standards that protect our passengers and our vessels while still allowing electric mobility to grow."
The DOE, through its Electric Vehicle Industry Management Division, is coordinating with MARINA, the BFP, and the Philippine Coast Guard on the ongoing investigation into the Coron incident. The Department remains in close coordination with these agencies to ensure that safety measures for electric and hybrid vehicles keep pace with the country's growing shift to cleaner transport, so that Filipino passengers and motorists alike can continue to travel safely and with confidence.