The government is working on strategies to regulate electric tricycles (e-trike) and bicycles (e-bike), which are rapidly increasing and becoming one of the leading causes of traffic accidents on national roads across the country.
On Thursday, officials of five government agencies — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) — met to discuss various issues related to electric vehicles, especially e-trikes.
Topics discussed included the registration of e-trikes and e-bikes, as well as the requirement for their drivers to obtain a license.
MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes, LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II , LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III, DOTr Undersecretary. Jose Lim, and other officials also talked about existing laws, policies, guidelines, ordinances, and programs concerning electric vehicles at both the national and local government levels.
According to Artes, the proliferation of e-vehicles has become a cause for concern. “The LGUs have laid down their concerns, existing ordinances, regulations, and programs concerning e-vehicles; these will be reconciled with the policies of the national government,” he said.
He said that e-vehicles, such as e-tricycles, e-bikes, e-pedicabs, e-scooters, push carts, and kuligligs, not only slow down the flow of traffic, but also pose a severe risk and danger to the lives of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
Artes noted that one of the sales pitches of vendors of these e-vehicles is that users do not need to obtain a license or have the units registered. “When these e-vehicle users violate the law, how can we issue a traffic violation ticket if the users do not possess a license? We also cannot charge the vehicle owners because they are not registered,” he pointed out.
Based on the agency’s monitoring, minors are seen driving e-vehicles on national highways, some drivers do not wear helmets or protective gear, and some users traverse their units in the middle of the highways, among other issues.
“In coming up with a new set of regulations, we shall address these concerns, particularly safety issues. We will consolidate and harmonize all existing rules and regulations as well as ongoing programs of the local government units (LGUs) and even the national government concerning e-vehicles to make it comprehensive. This will also cover not just Metro Manila but nationwide,” Artes said.
Artes said that Metro Manila local government units have been asked to submit a list of their own ordinances, regulations, and programs, particularly the use of the units for livelihood, by Monday, to iron out the kinks.
In response, Mendoza said that registration of e-vehicles and requiring users to obtain driver’s licenses are among the possible changes.
“We will take a second look at the suggestions of the LGUs and propose the appropriate measures to regulate the use of e-vehicles in major thoroughfares,” said Mendoza, adding that they will also submit their recommendations to the DOTr.
Meanwhile, Guadiz said that they are also concerned about the increasing number of e-trikes as they hinder the government’s plan for the modernization of public utility vehicles (PUVs).
“These e-trikes compete with legitimate PUVs in getting passengers. We are coordinating with the MMDA and LTO to apprehend these units that do not have franchises to operate as PUVs,” said Guadiz.
In Muntinlupa City, a local official made a proposal to regulate passenger e-trikes.
Councilor Ryan Bagatsing expressed concerns about issues on e-trikes such as safety and overloading. He also noted that some e-trikes are driven by minors.
He proposed that all e-trikes should be registered with the city government to identify owners, users, and drivers.
Bagatsing also mentioned that e-trikes currently use the national road in Muntinlupa, and motorists have complained about e-trikes becoming hazards on major roads.
The municipal government of San Mateo, Rizal had started apprehending e-bikes, tricycles, and pedicabs plying national roads.
Violators were fined P2,500 for the first two offenses, while a third offense will result in the revocation of franchises of tricycle drivers.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. commended the municipality of San Mateo for strictly enforcing the ban on e-vehicles on national roads and urged other LGUs to do the same.
Abalos reiterated his call for local officials to strictly enforce regulations prohibiting tricycles and pedicabs from plying along national highways. He explained that while trikes and pedicabs provide accessible and affordable modes of transportation, the safety of drivers, passengers, and road users is of utmost importance.
