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Marcos admin settles CARS funding dispute
Manila Bulletin
|January 17, 2026
The government has finalized a funding mechanism for its flagship automotive manufacturing incentive program, moving to reassure investors after a presidential veto of the 2026 budget allocation sparked concerns over the state’s fiscal commitments.
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Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go told reporters on Friday, Jan. 16, that the Marcos administration has secured a solution to finance the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program.
“After much chatter on the vetoed funding of the CARS program, the government has finalized a funding solution for the CARS program,” Go told reporters.
“Therefore, car manufacturers enrolled in the program can now be assured that the government will fulfill its commitment to investors,” he added.
The government’s move aims to stabilize the investment climate for major car manufacturers who have integrated the local production incentives into their long-term regional strategies.
This story is from the January 17, 2026 edition of Manila Bulletin.
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