THE grace period granted by the Office of the President for e-trikes, e-bikes, and other similar light vehicles traveling on national roads has lapsed on May 18.
For the past month, the MMDA has refrained from issuing tickets or impounding units caught on major roads.
Now that the grace period has ended, will the MMDA start enforcing regulations?
“Upon consultations with our team, we will continue to deter these vehicles from using major roads for one more week as part of our initiative to support the President’s directive to conduct an educational campaign and inform the public,” according to Atty. Romando Artes, Acting Chairman, MMDA.
MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes stated that their personnel will continue to remind drivers of e-vehicles like e-bikes and e-trikes, as well as tricycles, pedicabs, pushcarts, and “kuligligs” not to use national, circumferential, and radial roads.
MMDA to impound unregistered e-bikes or e-trikes starting next week
According to the MMDA, the one-week extension will allow owners and drivers of e-vehicles and other light vehicles to register their units or obtain a driver’s license.
The agency warns that those who fail to comply will face penalties.
“We will only impound those without a license or registration,” Artes added.
“That’s what will happen next week if they do not comply,” Artes expressed.
Artes also emphasized the importance of having a driver’s license, especially since they have received reports of minors driving e-trikes, which he said is very dangerous.
“More likely, they do not know the traffic rules and regulations. Their maturity to drive vehicles is not high enough, which is dangerous not only for the driver but also for pedestrians and other vehicles like cyclists,” Artes added.
Local government units in Metro Manila have conducted extensive information drives on alternative routes that can be taken. Meanwhile, units impounded last month on the first day of implementation have been released without fines for the violators.
