E-trike (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is deferring the imposition of penalties on e-trikes plying national roads in Metro Manila.
MMDA acting chair Don Artes said they would use the one-month grace period to inform the public of the prohibition on e-bikes, e-trikes, tricycles and pedicabs.
For a month, the MMDA will continue flagging down violators of the ban but will not issue tickets and the vehicles will not be impounded.
Instead, they will be informed of the regulation and advised about alternate roads they can use.
The MMDA received President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive Thursday morning to partially suspend the implementation of MMDA Regulation 24-002 Series of 2024.
“Our president is a compassionate leader, and he is sensitive to the sentiments of the public, as some of the violators claimed that they were not aware of the regulation, do not know the alternative routes, and have not yet adjusted their routine in the use of their electric bikes,” Artes said during a press briefing in Pasig City on Friday.
Artes said the agency would further look into how to go about the cancellation of citation tickets issued to 290 violators and the return of 69 impounded vehicles from April 17 until the suspension of the issuance of tickets Thursday morning.
“We will find a way to make the directive of the president retroactive," Artes said.
The MMDA and Metro Manila local government units will focus on informing the public on the alternative routes that such vehicles can use.
“We will meet with the LGUs' traffic officials for the identification of alternate routes in Metro Manila,” Artes said.
Before the grace period ends, Artes said they will submit a report and make necessary recommendations to the President.
The PHP2,500 penalty for violators will also remain once they resume the issuance of tickets, explaining that such a penalty is “punitive” because repetitive violations of the law occur when the penalty is minimal.
Artes said the Land Transportation Office has released guidelines on the registration of light electric vehicles, which users should follow.
Under the Metro Manila Council (MMC)-approved MMDA Regulation No. 24-002, e-bikes, e-trikes, tricycles, pedicabs, push carts, and kuligligs are banned from traversing national roads, circumferential roads, and radial roads in Metro Manila. (PR)
