Metro Manila, Philippines – The Land Transportation Office announced it will begin penalizing e-trike drivers who ply major roads in Metro Manila on Friday, Jan. 2, as authorities move to strictly enforce the ban.

In a statement, the LTO said strict enforcement will cover main highways, including:

EDSA
C-5
Roxas Boulevard
Quirino Avenue to Magallanes – SLEX

The agency said it will deploy law enforcers at critical points along these roads to ensure compliance. Violators will face penalties, including possible impoundment of their e-trikes.

”Ang mga pangunahing lansangang ito ay idinisenyo para sa mas mabilis at mas malalaking sasakyan… Ang pagsasabay ng mababagal at magagaan na sasakyan sa ganitong uri ng kalsada ay nagdudulot ng malinaw na panganib sa lahat ng gumagamit ng daan,” said LTO chief Markus Lacanilao.

[Translation: These major roads are designed for faster and larger vehicles…Mixing slow-moving and light vehicles on this type of roadway poses a clear danger to all road users.]

Lacanilao added that the LTO is awaiting more comprehensive guidelines from the Department of Transportation and other concerned agencies. He said the agency will coordinate with local government units and other stakeholders to identify alternate routes for affected e-trikes.

The LTO committed to strictly enforcing the ban on e-vehicles during a Senate hearing in November, where senators raised concerns over the proliferation of unregulated e-trikes and e-bikes on major roads despite the lack of registration and driver’s licenses, as well as safety concerns.

Lacanilao initially said violators would be apprehended starting Dec. 1, but later clarified that the agency would first conduct an information drive instead of immediately impounding errant e-trikes.

“Binibigyang-diin ng LTO na ang layunin ng hakbang na ito ay hindi upang ipagbawal ang paggamit ng nga e-trikes sa pangkalahatan, kundi upang maiwasan ang aksidente at matiyak ang kaligtasan at kaayusan sa ating mga lansangan,” Lacanilao said.

[Translation: The LTO emphasized that the purpose of this measure is not to ban the use of e-trikes in general, but to prevent accidents and ensure safety and order on our roads.]

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority banned e-trikes and e-bikes from national roads beginning April 2024, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordering a one-month grace period before penalties were imposed.