BACOLOD CITY, Jan. 9 -- Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday that a China-based firm has proposed to build an electric (e)-vehicle manufacturing plant in this city.

"Big companies have been expressing interest to invest in the Philippines. One of those companies has already identified Bacolod as their place of operations," Benitez announced the development in a press briefing held at the Government Center.

The mayor said he discussed the proposal with the officials of Jiangsu Fengchuen New Energy Power Technology Co. Ltd. in China when he joined the Philippine delegation during the state visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to Beijing last week.

"They will come here. In fact, they already have representatives who have in...