MMDA to remain strict on e-trike, light vehicle ban

MANILA, Philippines — Despite an order from President Marcos, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority would remain strict in banning light vehicles like e-bicycles, e-tricycles and tricycles from plying major roads in Metro Manila, acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said yesterday.

On April 18, Marcos suspended for one month the imposition of penalties on and impounding of e-bikes, e-trikes and other vehicles barred from traversing national roads.

During a media briefing yesterday, Artes said the agency would abide by Marcos’ order, which he called a “partial suspension” because only the penalty and impounding would be suspended.

Enforcers from the MMDA and local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila would still accost light vehicle users violating the restriction, he added.

“We would do more to inform them of alternate routes. We were not able to release information on which roads are prohibited, which ones are allowed,” Artes said.

He noted that the one-month grace period to suspend penalties and impounding of light vehicles would be “enough to inform the drivers about the alternate routes, and get them ready to take other modes of transport.”

Reacting to the president’s comment that the fine was “huge,” Artes asserted the P2,500 fine imposed on violators was “made to become punitive.”

He added there would be no changes to be made in the regulation following the President’s declaration.

He said drivers of 290 light vehicles, mostly e-trikes and tricycles, were fined, with 69 light vehicles impounded in the two days before Marcos’ order.

Asked if the government would return the impounded vehicles and collected fines, Artes said the MMDA would study the possibility of making Marcos’ order retroactive.

However, Artes noted the Metro Manila LGUs that enforce their own ordinances related to the ban on light vehicles using national roads would be the ones to decide what to do with the impounded vehicles and the fines they collected.

He called on owners to register their light vehicles with the Land Transportation Office, as well as secure a driver’s license, during the month-long grace period.