Metro Manila Council to Regulate E-Trikes, E-Bikes, and Tricycles with Fines on Major Roads

 

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) is set to discuss and approve a resolution regulating the use of electric motor vehicles (e-motor vehicles), including e-trikes, tricycles, and kuliglig, along major thoroughfares. The proposed measure aims to enhance road safety by establishing clear rules, fines, and penalties for violations.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Traffic Enforcement Group Director Victor Nuñez said the resolution would reconcile policies between local government units (LGUs) and the national government.

“Last week, we held a Technical Working Group meeting with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Almost everyone agreed on the need for proper regulation,” Nuñez said in a briefing aired on People’s Television.

He noted that an existing 2021 LTO circular outlines guidelines for e-bikes but lacks specific penalties for violations. “The circular specifies where e-bikes can travel, but it does not indicate fines if they enter restricted areas. That has been the problem,” Nuñez said.

The new resolution would address this gap by including fines and penalties for violators. It will cover e-trikes, kuliglig, and tricycles, which have been spotted on national roads, posing hazards to other motorists.

Several Metro Manila LGUs already have ordinances regulating e-trikes. Nuñez said the MMC resolution would serve as a model for LGUs without existing rules.

Social media posts have highlighted concerns over the rising number of e-bikes on national highways, with some riders operating without protective gear. “We are not discriminating against them. We just need regulation to promote road safety. These vehicles are dangerous on major roads,” Nuñez said.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II previously indicated that possible requirements under the proposed rules could include the registration of e-bikes and the requirement of a driver’s license.

The MMDA hopes the proposal will be approved by the Metro Manila Council next week.