A turnover ceremony was held at the Makati City Hall’s Open Grounds last January 18. Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) executives, namely Mr. Dongwook Kim, Strategy Planning Division Executive Vice President as well as Mr. Yongtae Kim, Policy Coordination Office Vice President for Hydrogen and EV Business made an appearance. With them of course were HMPH President, Mr. Dong Wook Lee, who was joined by other local management, Mr. Cecil Capacete, Managing Director, Mr. Jae Ha Ryu, Directing Coordinator for Sales and Dealer Development, and, Mr. Young Uk Ko, Directing Coordinator for Aftersales.

“Hyundai Motor Company was founded in 1967, and with partners like the Philippines, we are now one of the world’s largest automotive groups. Our journey has been an exciting one so far. We are proud and very grateful for the successes we had. However, we are always striving to do better,” said Mr. Dongwook Kim. “The Ioniq 5 exemplifies the essence of Hyundai Motor Group’s technology and innovation. As proven by the World Car of the Year several times, capturing people’s heart all over the world. Undoubtedly, Makati is the most suitable city in the Philippines to match it. Today, we are planting the seed of sustainability. We will be one with your commitment in uplifting the lives of Makatizens.”

His Excellency Sang-hwa Lee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, also dedicated time for the event and shared a special message, “The Philippines is one of the nations most vulnerable to climate change because of its geographical location and composition. So the electric vehicles for public use revealed today by Makati City is commendable. Makati’s future-oriented approach aligns with the national government’s plan to increase the number of EVs in the country. It also fits well into Hyundai Motor’s pioneering path to carbon neutrality for the benefit of the future generation. To this end, Korea is more than prepared to partner with the Philippines in the field of eco-friendly transportation.”

Dating back to 2016, Makati vowed to become a model city built upon sustainable and resilient communities.

Just recently, it was recognized as the sole finalist, not just from the country but also Asia Pacific, at the prestigious 2023 World Smart Cities Awards. Though this is not a first for Makati at this international competition which promotes leadership and innovative ideas, its consistency of receiving distinctions, is a testament to the progress they have made to achieve their vision.

In attendance for Makati City was its elected officials and members, headed by Mayor Mar-len Abigail “Abby” Binay, Vice Mayor Monique Yazmin María “Nik” Lagdameo, First Congressional District Representative Romulo “Kid” Peña, Second Congressional District Representative, Luis Campos, and Head of Law and Public Safety Departments Atty. Michael Camiña. Leaders from the Department of Energy’s Director Patrick Aquino of the Energy Utilization Management Bureau and the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines’ President Edmund Araga were also present.

“As a resilience hub, we recognize our critical role in addressing environmental concerns. By introducing, Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicles into our public safety fleet, we not only enhance our emergency response capabilities but also contribute to reducing air pollution and our overall carbon footprint. This move not only bolsters our emergency services but also sets an example for other cities to follow in the pursuit of sustainable urban living,” said Mayor Binay.