Its not just government support, it's also logistics.

Thailand is land locked to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, and even Russia!

Manufacturers in Thailand can easily ship their products to those countries by land means such as trucks or trains. While here in the Philippines, they will need to ship them out by boats. So exporting cars from Thailand will really come out cheaper.

Even if we can match them in production costs, it'l be the shopping costs that'l make it harder. The poor record of our maritime industry, as well as the many storms that come every year does not make us more attractive either.