As the proliferation of electric tricycles (e-trikes) continues, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) announced that a resolution on regulating the use of the said electric vehicles will be released and it will include fines and penalties, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Metro Manila Council is set to release a resolution regulating the use of electric motor vehicles, especially along major thoroughfares.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Director Victor Nuñez of the Traffic Enforcement Group said Friday that the resolution, up for discussion and approval next week, would include fines and penalties imposed on e-motor vehicle users.
Nuñez said the resolution would reconcile the policies of local government units (LGUs) on e-trikes with those of the national government.
“Nag-TWG [Technical Working Group] meeting kami last week at halos lahat in unison gusto magkaroon ng tamang regulasyon dito, kasama ang DOTr [Department of Transportation], LTO [Land Transportation Office], LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board],” he said in a Bagong Pilipinas briefing aired over People’s Television.
Nuñez said there is an existing LTO circular in 2021 outlining the guidelines on the regulation of e-bikes but without corresponding penalties for violations.
“Nakalagay lang kung saan pwede dumaan pero sa hindi pwede dumaan, kapag dumaan sila wala naman concrete penalty na nakalagay (Only the roads they are allowed to pass are included but it does not indicate penalties or fines). ‘Yun po ang problema kasi (There goes the problem). There’s no definitive fine for them,” he said.
“But now with the recent initiatives magkakaroon po ng fines and penalties at mas na-enhance namin ‘yung regulation pertaining to e-trikes, kuliglig and tricycles kasi ‘di lang po e-trikes nakikita natin sa national roads, pati mga tricycles din (We will include the fines and penalties as we enhance the regulation pertaining to e-trikes and even tricycles),” he said.
Several Metro Manila LGUs have existing ordinances on the regulation of e-trikes even before the pandemic, Nuñez said.
“Kinonsider namin ang mga provisions nila dito. Meron kasing LGUs na wala pa at ngayon pa lang gagawa after mailabas ang Metro Manila Council resolution. They will base their ordinances on that (We took into consideration their provisions on this. There are LGUs that have no [resolution] on this yet and said they would pattern theirs after the Metro Manila Council resolution has been released),” Nuñez said.
Several social media posts have raised concerns over the proliferation of e-bikes, with some seen driving along national highways without protective gears.
Such vehicles, including tricycles, are not allowed to ply major roads and national highways as they pose hazard to other motorists.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think the local authorities will come up with a concrete regulation of the use of e-trikes? Are e-trikes in your city making the flow of traffic worse? Have there been minors driving e-trikes in your local community? Did you spot any abusive e-trike drivers on the local roads lately? When was the last time you saw someone drive an e-trike along the national highway?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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