driving – Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 60

March 3, 2025February 25, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 Forza Motorsport (2005) revisited – The first time I ever played first-ever Forza Motorsport video game was on a rented original Xbox console in 2005. Right from the start, I was very impressed with how realistic yet accessible the game played even as it was designed by Turn 10 as a simulation. Years later, I played the succeeding Forza Motorsport games and became a fan of the series on Xbox consoles. It was delightful for me to watch the Forza Motorsport retrospective video by YouTuber Camp Xbox which you can view below.

#2 You, Me and the Movies react to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movies of 1990 and 1991 – Here in the Philippines, I saw the films Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze in local cinemas in 1990 and 1991 respectively. Each viewing experience was in a fully packed cinema which was not surprising because the TMNT franchise – specifically the animated series on TV – was already very popular among Filipinos and there was excitement to see the live-action versions of the popular turtles, Splinter, Shredder and April O’Neil. That being said, you should see You, Me and the Movies’ reaction videos of the two films.

#3 Israeli Air Force flies over the funeral of Hezbollah’s late leader – Several months after the successful elimination of Hezbollah leader and terrorist Nasrallah, a funeral for him was held in Lebanon and there were officials from terrorist state Iran who attended. And then something happened…fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force flew over the funeral and literally took the thunder away. The terrorist group of Hezbollah got very humiliated. Watch the analytical video of Hananya Naftali below.

#4 In-depth look back at the “DCEU” movies – Remember the DC superhero movies of the so-called DCEU (DC Extended Universe)? This year, Warner Bros., DC and director James Gunn will release an all-new Superman movie and now is a good time to look back at the previous franchise of DC superhero movies released from 2013 to 2023, and I found a very comprehensive video from YouTuber FilmyHead for you to watch.

#5 PatmanQC examines Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters – I never got to play the late-1980s game Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters in the arcade nor any of its ports. Being curious, I took time out to watch PatmanQC’s video about the game. It turns out, the game itself is an inspired piece of work and it was made by Atari. I urge you to watch the video below.

#6 Popcorn in Bed reacts to Starship Troopers – When it was first released in 1997, a lot of movie critics and moviegoers did not fully understand the themes and meaning of Starship Troopers. While many viewed it as a big-budget, loud and action-packed sci-fi flick, there was a minority of people who realized director Paul Verhoeven’s (RoboCop, Total Recall) use of irony within the narrative. Months ago, Popcorn in Bed posted her reaction video and you should see how the film affects her.

#7 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Thomas Crown Affair – Remember watching The Thomas Crown Affair in 1999? Some people perceived it as a clever remake of the 1968 original while there were others who found it to be Pierce Brosnan’s most notable non-James Bond role of the 1990s. Recently, Ashleigh Burton saw the film and you must watch her reaction video below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

DOTr postpones news rules and imposition of fines for motorists with no RFID to October 1, 2024

September 4, 2024August 28, 2024carlocarrasco

This is for motorists who have been traveling along the highways without radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or with insufficient load. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently announced that it has officially postponed to October 1, 2024 the implementation of new tollway guidelines and fines, according to a BusinessWorld news report. The implementation was supposed to have happened on August 31.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) postponed the implementation of new tollway guidelines, which impose fines on motorists with no radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or insufficient funds on their accounts, to Oct. 1.

“We hope the concerned agencies and tollway operators would use the 30-day deferment to fine-tune expressway operations and further intensify the public information campaign to enable tollway users to comply with the new guidelines,” Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said in a statement on Tuesday.

The new rules, under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001, were supposed to be enforced starting Aug. 31.

Under the rules, all motorists passing through expressways without RFID tags or having insufficient balance on their accounts will face penalties starting Aug. 31.

“These revised guidelines should significantly improve traffic along expressways through cashless or contactless toll plazas,” Mr. Bautista said.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said motorists entering an access highway without RFID tags or electronic toll collection (ETC) device will incur a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 for subsequent offenses.

Motorists exiting toll expressways with insufficient account balance will be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P2,500 for subsequent offenses.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you been driving regularly on the highways without an RFID tag on your vehicle?

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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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 15

August 12, 2024August 15, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. X-COM: UFO Defense print ad

*While there were no screenshots of the game for PlayStation, the art here was enough to catch your attention.*

Back in 1994, X-COM: UFO Defense (original European title: UFO: Enemy Unknown) became an unexpected hit with PC gamers as it gathered lots of positive reviews from the critics and sold a lot on the PC DOS (disk operating system) format. In an obvious attempt to continue the commercial success, a port of the game was released for the PlayStation console in 1995. Publisher MicroProse and its marketing partners came up with this eye-catching print ad to promote the PlayStation version. While no screenshots were shown, the artwork used turned out to be effective in catching attention while emphasizing the sci-fi concept of the game.

2. Star Command print ad

*Long before Starfield, there was Star Command.*

Way back in 1988, I first saw my friends play the sci-fi role-playing game (sci-fi RPG) Star Command on the PC DOS format. A short time later, I played the game on our home computer and finished the single-player campaign. This print ad, which has lots of descriptive text, has a strong visual presentation that entices players to play the game and discover the vast amount of content (space travel, missions, battles, encounters with aliens) that the game developers prepared. For its time, the Star Command print ad was captivating to look at.

3. The Daedalus Encounter print ad

*This print ad was an attempt to catch the attention of both gamers and people who want to watch live-action spectacle.*

Released on PC, Macintosh and the 3DO game console in 1995, The Daedalus Encounter was a sci-fi video game that worked as an interactive movie (with puzzles) starring Tia Carrere. To promote the 3DO version, publisher Panasonic came up with an ad that emphasized the sci-fi concept and the cinematic experience (including a few stills of cutscenes) leaving little room about how the game plays. Take note that this game was released at a time when the CD-ROM format started gaining popularity as a reliable optic media format which opened opportunities for game companies to include full-motion videos.

4. Gradius Japanese arcade flyer

*The original Gradius has always been fun to play and the enjoyment also made it on game consoles as more games were released.*

Still on the realm of sci-fi, Konami launched their 2D side-scrolling shooter Gradius in the arcades in Japan in 1985. The arcade flyer here used a huge amount of space for the game’s official artwork which is very captivating to look at as it clearly emphasized the sci-fi concept. On the side are five screenshots that tell gamers what to expect when playing. The promotions paid off nicely for Konami as Gradius became an instant hit in Japanese arcades and eventually found strong commercial success in the arcades in Europe and America. By today’s standards, this game is a classic and the Gradius game franchise has produced several sequels and spin-offs released on multiple platforms.

5. Super Cobra print ad

*This ad I saw while reading comic books long ago. The game itself was fun.*

Here is a game I played on the Atari 2600 over forty years ago. Super Cobra was a 2D side-scrolling game in which players control an armed helicopter that has to move from left to right, attacking enemies, and avoiding enemy projectiles while maintaining the fuel supply. This ad, which appeared on some comic books I read, utilized the game art that was used on the box cover although the single screenshot displayed looks exaggerated when compared to what I saw and played.

6. Destruction Derby print ad

*The Destruction Derby print ad that had no screenshots of the game.*

In 1995, Sony launched the PlayStation console in America and in Europe. In Europe, publisher Psygnosis promoted their ambitious game Destruction Derby (a 3D polygonal racing game that emphasized vehicular damage) for both PlayStation and the PC that same year. As this Destruction Derby print ad did not show any screenshots, Psygnosis and their marketing team or partner decided to pounce on positive gaming media quotes and the sexy model to promote their game. Their marketing move paid off nicely as over a million copies of Destruction Derby were sold by August 1996.

7. Virtua Cop 2 print ad

*A lot of people found this Virtua Cop 2 print ad looking very weird.*

When Sega of Japan forced its American division to launch the Sega Saturn console in the United States in 1995 without any pre-release marketing, it resulted in a series of disappointments that include low sales, too few games launched and strained ties with their business partners. In 1996, Sega started to become more aggressive to sell more Saturn units and more 1^st party exclusive games such as Virtua Cop 2 (for the Saturn) which itself was a big hit arcade hit. As the company clearly aimed to make the console version of Virtua Cop 2 a hit, they approved this print ad which had a very intriguing visual concept showing video game images reflected on the glasses on the police man. As Virtua Cop 2 required a light-gun peripheral to be played accurately like in the arcade, this print ad utilized very little space for the Sega Saturn Stunner.

8. Contra: Legacy of War print ad

*The print ad of Contra: Legacy of War.*

When I first heard that a brand new game of Contra would be released on the still-new PlayStation and Sega Saturn in the mid-1990s, I was excited as I always enjoyed the original game I played on the Family Computer. This print ad of Contra: Legacy of War brought my excitement way down as it showed that the game no longer utilized the 2D side-scrolling design and came up with a design that emphasized 3-dimensional environments and polygons. The change in design was too alienating for me as all the previous Contra games had the 2D side-scrolling format as the main designs (leaving little room for the occasional sprite-scaling 3D sequences in some games). I finally played Contra: Legacy of War on PlayStation on November 1996 and it was a huge letdown!

9. Out Run arcade flyers

*Sega Out Run arcade machines in different forms.*

*This Out Run flyer really has nice art.*

In the history of arcade games, Sega’s Out Run was a massive success not only in Japan but also in America and Europe. Designed by Yu Suzuki (Virtua Fighter, Shenmue), Out Run was a pseudo-3D driving game in which players get to drive a Ferrari Testarossa convertible (which is always visible to the player) from one scenic destination to the next avoiding traffic as much as possible. This was indeed a labor of love on the part of Yu Suzuki who himself spent time in Europe to gain inspiration on designing the game. As Out Run was a hit, Sega made different types of machines of the game that arcade operators can choose from depending on how much space their respective arcades have left and how the local players prefer to play it. It should be noted that in one of the flyers above, the original sound track was promoted as well.

10. Hook SNES version print ad

*If you look closely at the SNES box front cover art, you will notice that Peter Pan and Captain Hook looking nothing like the actors who portrayed them in Steven Spielberg’s movie.*

In late-1991, Steven Spielberg’s movie Hook was released in cinemas and revived public interest in the fairy tale of Peter Pan. Typical of the entertainment business of the time, video games based on the movie were released on different platforms in 1992 and among them was a version on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Apart from showing the game’s box, the print ad of Hook on SNES cleverly included positive quotes from GamePro, Game Players Nintendo Guide and the Super NES Buyer’s Guide to convince readers that the game is worth their time.

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Electric bike (e-bike) driver hits elderly woman who eventually died

April 9, 2024April 6, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Marikina, an elderly woman died shortly after getting hit by an electric bike (e-bike) while crossing the road which was captured on CCTV, according to a GMA Network news report. The e-bike driver, who is now under the custody of the local police, has been charged for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. The victim was 73-years-old.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

A grandmother in Marikina was killed after being hit by an electric bicycle or e-bike.

According to Marisol Abduhraman’s report on “24 Oras,” the victim was not immediately brought to the hospital, her family claimed.

As seen on the CCTV footage, after the woman opened her umbrella, she started crossing the road. But while crossing, an electric bicycle hit her.

The woman fell down and was immediately approached by bystanders and the e-bike rider.

The 73-year-old Luzviminda Bisares was declared dead when she was taken to the hospital.

“Hindi ako makapaniwala bakit niya po binangga at sinagasaan po ang lola ko na nagtamo ng brain injury and putol po ang braso niya,” said the victim’s granddaughter, Samantha Bisarez.

(I can’t believe why he hit my grandmother causing her to suffer from brain injury, her arm was broken.)

She added that it was impossible for the rider not to notice her grandmother, especially since she was carrying an open umbrella.

“Sabi niya may tinitingnan daw siya sa bulsa niya pero nasa CCTV at lahat noong tao doon nakita na nagse-cellphone po siya while driving,” said Samantha.

(He said he was looking at something in his pocket but it was seen on CCTV and everyone there saw that he was using his cell phone while driving.)

“Sabihin na nating aksidente pero bakit mo hinayaang manlamig, lumamig ‘yung lola ko. Bakit hindi ka nag-insist na ipagamot yung lola ko o ipadala sa ospital? Para sana madugtungan pa ‘yung buhay niya?” she added.

(Let’s say it was an accident but why didn’t you insist on bringing my grandmother to the hospital so she could be treated?)

The rider explained that he did not immediately take the grandmother to the hospital because he was panicking.

“Malapit na po ako sa bahay nila tapos nandun po kami papasok sa eskinita nahilo po s’ya kaya pinaupo ko po muna s’ya saglit. Hindi na po kami umabot kasi nahilo po s’ya inupo ko po sya dun,” the suspect said.

(We were nearing their house, we were entering the alley…she felt dizzy so I made her sit for a while. We didn’t get there because she was dizzy, so I let her sir first.)

He said a man arrived from the alley and took the grandmother to the hospital. The suspect said he regretted what happened and said he did not mean to kill her.

“Masakit po sa dibdib, sympre po hindi ko naman po sinasadya yung nangyari. Sobrang naging bangungot. Sana po patawarin ako ng pamilya n’ya,” he said.

(It’s painful. What happened was not intentional. It was a nightmare. I hope her family will forgive me.)

But his apology was not enough for the pain of the grieving family.

Posted below is the related news video of GMA Network.

Indeed, what happened in Marikina City was a tragedy and it took place at a time when the start of the declared ban on electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) on major roads of Metro Manila was nearing (April 15, 2024). That being said, e-bikes and e-trikes are very much in people’s minds and already there have been several cases of reckless driving, careless driving, close calls and accidents involving the said electric vehicles captured on video.

This tragedy in Marikina City reported nationwide by GMA News adds further challenges to e-bike and e-trike drivers/owners as it could spark public demand that each e-bike and e-trike should be registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and that all the respective drivers should be required to secure licenses to drive (which means participating in seminars about traffic rules and then passing a test).

As for those private or civic groups that blatantly support the rights of e-bike/e-trike drivers, observe how they will react to the Marikina City tragedy. See how they will come up with excuses as they strive to gain the attention of the media to themselves.

A file photo of an electric tricycle (e-trike) traveling along Alabang-Zapote Road in Muntinlupa City. In relation to the tragedy in Marikina City, do you think it is high-time to compel all e-bike/e-trike drivers to be licensed to drive and have their respective vehicles registered under the Land Transportation Office (LTO)?

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think it is time to require all e-bike and e-trike units to be formally registered under the LTO, and the respective drivers should be required to be licensed to drive? Regarding the e-bike driver responsible for the death of the elderly woman in Marikina City, do you think his explanations make any sense at all? Are there many e-bike/e-trike-related accidents that happened in your city recently? Did you see any e-bike/e-trike using driving recklessly recently?

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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Supreme Court tells Metro Manila LGUs to follow MMDA’s ticketing system

March 14, 2024March 6, 2024carlocarrasco

Motorists who travel around the Metro Manila regularly should be aware that the Supreme Court recently officially invalidated local government units (LGUs) of the National Capital Region (NCR) from issuing traffic violation tickets and seizing drivers’ licenses and ordered them to follow the ticketing system of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Supreme Court (SC) has invalidated provisions of ordinances by local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila allowing their respective traffic enforcers to issue violation receipts and confiscate driver’s licenses.

“A permanent injunction is hereby issued to enjoin respondent local government units from further issuing ordinance violation receipts; and confiscating licenses through their own traffic enforcers, unless they are deputized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA),” the court said in its 42-page decision uploaded March 4 and penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

This stemmed from a suit filed by 11 transport groups before the Court of Appeals in 2006, claiming that different citations from the MMDA and the LGUs are confusing as some bodies do not recognize tickets by other LGUs or the MMDA.

While the case was pending in 2012, a resolution by the MMDA Metro Manila Council (MMC) then adopted a uniform ticketing system and established a system of interconnectivity among the LGUs involved in transport and traffic management in Metro Manila.

In December of that year, the appellate court dismissed the suit, prompting the petitioners to elevate the case to the high tribunal.

The tribunal, in its ruling, said traffic management in the LGUs is covered by the MMDA Law.

“(T)he Court thus declares as invalid the common provision in the said traffic codes or ordinances of the LGUs in Metro Manila empowering each of them to issue OVR (ordinance violation receipts) to erring drivers and motorists,” the SC said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think this new order by the Supreme Court will turn out helpful in the years to come?

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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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Muntinlupa City Mayor asks City Council to pass ordinance to regulate electric tricycles (e-trikes)

March 5, 2024March 4, 2024carlocarrasco

In the progressive City of Muntinlupa, Mayor Ruffy Biazon formally asked the City Council to pass an ordinance that would regulate the use of electric tricycles (e-trikes) within the city, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. For the newcomers reading this, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) passed a resolution covering e-trikes and electric bikes (e-bikes) while the Land Transportation Office (LTO) wants the said electric vehicles to be registered.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon asked the City Council to pass an ordinance regulating the use of e-trikes (electric tricycles) in the city, saying “the road is a dangerous place.”

During the flag-raising ceremony at the Muntinlupa City hall on March 4, Biazon said a local measure is needed following a resolution passed by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) that will ban e-trikes and e-bikes on 21 national roads in Metro Manila. A P2,500 fine will be imposed on violators.

Each local government unit (LGU) in Metro Manila will determine the roads in its jurisdiction that will be added to the ban.

Biazon said the MMC resolution does not include any road in Muntinlupa but the city has the National Road, which stretches from Barangay Tunasan to Sucat.

Only e-trikes will be under regulation in Muntinlupa.

“Talagang lumalaganap ang ownership ng e-trikes kasi mura nga naman, it’s a means of transportation. Madaling matutunan (The ownership of e-trikes is spreading because it’s really affordable, it’s a means of transportation. It’s easy to learn how to drive it),” said Biazon.

However, based on traffic accidents, he said, there is a growing number of incidents involving e-trikes.

Biazon said the use of e-trikes is “running out of control.” He noted that e-trikes are being driven by minors going to school.

“The road is a dangerous place. Kaya mayroong (That is why we have) road rules and regulations for safety of everyone,” he said.

Road accidents can hurt and kill people, he said.

“The road is a dangerous place which needs regulation,” said the mayor.

“How come ang e-trike, nakikisama dun sa kalsada, sumasabay, minsan nga nagwi-weave in and out pa sa traffic, sila pa nagagalit, bakit hindi nag-a-undergo ng the same kind of regulation? ) How come e-trikes, which join the road, going along, and sometimes they weave in and out of traffic, they are even the ones who get angry, don’t undergo the same kind of regulation? They also cause traffic, they also cause accidents,” said Biazon.

He added, “At the point, kasalanan ng gobyerno na hindi kaagad naregulate o pinabayaan pa na lumaganap ang paggamit. From the very beginning dapat kinontrol na yon kasi nga we are using the road. Yan po ang position ng Metro Manila Council. (At this point, it is the fault of the government for not immediately regulating or letting its use to spread. From the very beginning, it should have been controlled because we are using the road. That is the position of the Metro Manila Council).”

“My position is clear: We need to regulate,” said Biazon, adding that the LTO is being called upon by the MMC to come up with licensing requirements for e-trike and e-bike users.

Muntinlupa City Council Majority Floor Leader Raul Corro said they will hold a public hearing to discuss the details of the regulation in the city.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you think that electric tricycles are so rampant locally they are made the flow of traffic slower and they became new traffic hazards? Did you see anyone drive an e-trike along the Alabang-Zapote Road or the national road leading to Muntinlupa City Hall? Are there minors in your local community who daringly drove an e-trike lately? Did you spot a reckless e-trike driver who committed violations such as violating the red traffic light, doing illegal counter-flow or illegally parking along a major road?

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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LTO wants electric bikes and electric tricycles registered and their respective drivers must be licensed

March 4, 2024February 29, 2024carlocarrasco

In connection with the Metro Manila Council’s (MMC) approval of a resolution affecting electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes), the Land Transportation Office (LTO) proposed to have all of the said vehicles to be registered and their respective drivers must be licensed to drive them, according to a GMA Network news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA Network news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Land Transportation Office wants light electric vehicles such as electric bikes and electric tricycles to be registered and their drivers to have licenses.

The proposal was presented by LTO chief Vigor Mendoza to stakeholders at a public consultation at the LTO office on Thursday.

In making his proposal, Mendoza cited Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code which requires all vehicles that use public roads maintained and funded by the government whether local or national to be registered.

During the consultation, 1-Rider Partylist Bonifacio Bosita asked Mendoza if the fee for light electric vehicles could be charged half the fee of regular motorcycle registration, to which Mendoza replied that the LTO is amenable to.

Aside from registration, Mendoza said drivers who will use light electric vehicles will be required to have a license.

The Electric Vehicles Association of the Philippines (EVAP) did not pose any objection to the proposal.

On Wednesday, the Metro Manila Council and the Metro Manila Development Authority approved a resolution banning light electric vehicles on national roads and imposing a fine of P2,500. For those drivers apprehended without a driver’s license, the vehicle will be impounded.

For my previous blog posts about e-bikes and e-trikes, click here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

For added insight about the violations caused by users of e-trikes and e-bikes, watch the YouTube videos below…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you agree with the LTO that e-bikes and e-trikes must be registered and their respective drivers should be required to have licenses? Are there many e-bike or e-trike users among your local community’s residents who are feeling uneasy about the new regulations and rules that will take effect soon? Did you see any e-bike or e-trike being driven by minors within your locality?

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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Muntinlupa City Mayor comments on ban on e-bikes and e-trikes on national roads plus regulations approved by Metro Manila Council (MMC)

March 1, 2024February 28, 2024carlocarrasco

In the progressive City of Muntinlupa, Mayor Ruffy Biazon spoke about the Metro Manila Council’s (MMC) approval of a resolution banning electric tricycles (e-trikes) and electric bikes (e-bikes) on national roads within Metro Manila and regulating them, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon said it is about time to rationalize the use of e-vehicles (electric vehicles) in the country in light of an increase in road accidents.

On Feb. 28, the Metro Manila Council (MMC), to which Biazon belongs, passed a resolution banning e-trikes (electric tricycles) and e-bikes (electric bikes) on national roads in Metro Manila. A P2,500 fine will be imposed on violators.

E-trike and e-bike drivers will also be required to obtain a driver’s license.

In addition, each local government unit (LGU) in Metro Manila will determine the roads in its jurisdiction that will be added to the ban.

“It is about time we rationalize the use of these vehicles which are increasingly getting involved in accidents, cause traffic and endanger their users,” said Biazon.

Biazon, a former congressman, added that “many of those who operate these e-vehicles lack the basic knowledge in road use and driving skills.”

“It has even been observed that some are driven by minors who would not even qualify for a student driver’s permit,” he noted.

He explained that “driving motor vehicles on roads is only a privilege, that’s before anyone is allowed to drive a motor vehicle, a license is required after undergoing training and a test.”

“Since drivers of these e-vehicle are using the same road, they should also comply with requirements imposed on motor vehicle drivers,” he said.

For my previous blog posts about e-bikes and e-trikes, click here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, did you notice e-bikes or e-trikes traveling along the Alabang-Zapote Road or the old highway going to Muntinlupa City Hall lately? Did you notice e-trikes entering the parking areas of Alabang shopping malls and actually park? Are you concerned that the charging of e-bikes or e-trikes at home could spark a fire unexpectedly?

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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Electric tricycle (e-trike) driver arrested for cursing the police after illegally parking his vehicle

February 29, 2024February 20, 2024carlocarrasco

With the huge spotlight on electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) in recent times here in the Philippines, it is clear that such vehicles have caused public disturbances and already local and national authorities are working in response to them. Within the city of Manila, an incident happened recently as an e-trike driver, who caught the attention of the local police with illegal parking, got arrested after cursing the police, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

An electric tricycle or e-trike driver who illegally parked his vehicle was arrested for direct assault after shouting and cursing police in Tondo, Manila on Saturday, Feb. 17.

The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the arrested suspect as Abraham Fernandez, 31, a resident of Barangay 123 in Tondo, Manila.

Before the suspect’s arrest, MPD personnel patrolled when they saw the suspect parked his e-trike in a no-parking zone along Juan Luna Street, Barangay 9, Zone 1 in Tondo, at around 4:20 p.m.

The authorities approached the suspect and told him to remove his vehicle blocking the road, which could cause traffic.

However, instead of cooperating, the suspect resisted, shouted, and cursed at the authorities in front of the public, which resulted in his arrest.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Did you notice e-bike or e-trike drivers drive recklessly within your local community? Are there any minors who drove e-bikes or e-trikes in your local community? Are you hoping that the local government and the nation government agencies will ban e-bikes and e-trikes on major roads and have all the vehicles required for registration?

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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Metro Manila Council (MMC) approves resolution banning e-trikes and e-bikes on major roads within the NCR, regulation of said vehicles will be implemented

February 29, 2024April 3, 2024carlocarrasco

Finally, the authorities in Metro Manila made a major move as the Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved yesterday a resolution that specifically prohibits electric tricycles (e-trikes) and electric bikes (e-bikes) on major roads within the National Capital Region (NCR), according to a Manila Bulletin news report. That being said, the mentioned electric vehicles (e-vehicles) will finally be regulated by local authorities and their users will be required to be licensed to drive.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Mayors of Metro Manila agreed on Wednesday, Feb. 28, to ban e-scooters and e-trikes on major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region (NCR) amid rampant traffic violations and accidents involving the small electric vehicles.

The decision was stipulated in a resolution of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of all Metro Manila mayors, according to MMC Chairman and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora during a press briefing with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Don Artes.

“Why are we doing this? There were a lot of pictures and videos shown to us about accidents involving these e-trikes and e-bikes and their presence on national roads and even on expressways which show that they are not following traffic rules and regulations,” said Zamora.

“Ultimately, the objective is to regulate and impose fines for the safety of everybody especially that the number of these e-bikes and e-trikes are continuously increasing,” he added.

Artes said that while there are other local government units across the country that have already issued ordinances on the use of e-bikes and e-trikes, the missing part of these ordinances and regulations was that they do not have stipulated fines for violators.

As a matter of protocol, the implementation of the resolution will be done 15 days after its publication.

Initial list – Initially, both the MMDA and MMC identified 19 major roads in Metro Manila where e-bikes and e-trikes are banned.

They are Recto Avenue, Quirino Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Katipunan/CP Garcia, Southeast Metro Manila Expressway, Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, South Luzon Expressway, Shaw Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue, Magsaysay Boulevard/Aurora Boulevard, Quezon Avenue/Commonwealth Avenue, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Rizal Avenue, Delpan/Marcos Highway/McArthur Highway, Elliptical Road, Mindanao Avenue and Marcos Highway.

Zamora, however, said that the number of roads where e-bikes and e-trikes are banned will increase in the coming days as all local government units (LGUs)( in Metro Manila were given authority to identify roads where e-bikes and e-trikes will not be allowed to travel.

Penalty – Artes said the MMC will be imposing P2,500 fine to all violators, or those who would dare to enter the prohibited roads.

He said the MMDA and enforcers of the LGUs are authorized to impose the fine on every e-bike and e-trike violator.

Artes said the same MMC resolution also authorizes traffic enforcers to impound e-bikes and e-trikes.

“If they enter the national roads we will impose a fine of P2,500. At the same time if the driver of these e-bikes and e-trikes have no driver’s license, then we will impound the vehicles,” said Artes.

Artes explained that the decision to impound the e-bikes and e-trikes was made since they could not issue a citation ticket for violation since the current regulation states that these vehicles do not need to be registered.

“Why do we have to impound them? With no registration and the driver has no driver’s license, who would receive the citation ticket?

Guidelines – Zamora, on the other hand, said they expect the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to release the guideline on Thursday, Feb. 29, on the use of e-bikes and e-trikes.

But this early, he said drivers of e-bikes and e-trikes must have a driver’s license in order to ensure that they underwent the proper training and seminar on traffic rules and regulations, as well as road safety measures.

“We consulted with the LTO to ask if the LGU has the power, and they said that if the e-trikes and e-bikes are not registered and the drivers do not have a driver’s license, then these are already two violations,” said Zamora.

Artes, for his part, said they expect the LTO guideline to discuss and clear things up on registration and the driver’s license requirement for riders of e-bikes and e-trikes.

For my previous blog posts about e-bikes and e-trikes, click here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think the regulation of electric vehicles (including e-bikes and e-trikes) and the ban on them on national roads will make vehicular travel safer for all? Do you think the declared penalty is too low? Are traffic enforcers in your city ready to implement the new rules that the Metro Manila Council approved? Do you think that there will be no more electric vehicles driven by minors once the new rules take effect?

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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