Starting in December this year, electronic bikes (e-bikes) and electronic tricycles (e-trikes) will be prohibited from driving on major roads.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao announced during the Senate budget deliberation on Thursday, November 27.
According to the officials, anyone caught driving on the thoroughfares will be apprehended by the concerned agencies. Moreover, the e-trikes and e-bikes will be impounded by the authorities.
RH Raymund Dadpaas reported that the announcement came after Senator Raffy Tulfo inquired about how most e-bike drivers have no license. During their session, the senator highlighted the dangers of driving an e-bike or e-trike alongside major roads.
Tulfo clarified that he is not against e-bikes or e-trikes, but suggested that drivers only use them inside subdivisions to prevent them from mixing with heavy vehicles.
“Again uulitin ko, wala akong problema doon sa e-bike o e-trike. Siguro sa loob ng subdivision why not. Pero once na humalo ka na doon sa mga regular traffic. Meaning, sa mga kalsada na naandon ‘yung mga heavy, light, and medium vehicles, ay dapat huwag na silang pumunta doon,” Tulfo explained.
“Starting December 1, para malaman ng lahat ng e-bike operator o driver…by December 1, huwag na,” he added.
Senator JV Ejercito seconded Tulfo’s remarks, stating, “Basta po main thoroughfares, bawal na po talaga sila. Siguro, bibigyan natin ng leeway sa barangay o kaya sa mga subdivision. Pero sa main thoroughfare, talagang hindi na sila papayagan.”
Dadpaas also reported that the tricycle drivers' association approached Tulfo and expressed their concerns about e-bike and e-trike drivers fetching passengers. The tricycle drivers said that some e-bike drivers have no license or are not registered.
The DOTr will coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) so that all local governments are informed of the LTO’s plan, effective December 1st.
