Metro Manila, Philippines – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) clarified there will be no impounding of light electronic vehicles, such as e-bikes and e-tricycles, that will ply national highways on Dec. 1.
In a video, LTO chief Markus Lacanilao said what will start on Dec. 1 is the agency’s information drive regarding the ban of light e-vehicles on main roads.
He said the strict enforcement on the ban of light e-vehicles on main roads, including the apprehension of violators, will start on Jan. 2, 2026.
“Pagdating sa Jan. 2, 2026, magsisimula na ang strict enforcement at wala ng extension, kasama rito apprehension para sa mga lalabag sa pagbabawal sa national highway,” he said.
[Translation: By Jan. 2, 2026, there will be strict enforcement and no extension, including the apprehension for those violating the ban on national highways.]
The confusion comes after Lacanilao initially committed to apprehend violators by Dec. 1, but later said they will conduct an information drive first during Senate’s deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Transportation.
READ: Stricter ban on e-trikes, e-bikes on main roads by Dec. 1
In issuing his clarification, Lacanilao said the LTO has clear legal authority to enforce traffic laws and when necessary, impound vehicles, including light e-vehicles, when they illegally use national roads or endanger road users.
“Ang ginagawa natin ngayon ay reinforcement ng matagal nang umiiral na patakaran, hindi paglikha ng panibagong pagbabawal,” he said.
[Translation: What the LTO is doing is the reinforcement of longstanding rules, not creating a new ban.]
He said light e-vehicles can use local and secondary roads, depending on the ordinance of local government units. They can be operated in subdivisions and along private roads.
“Ang pinagbabawal ay ang pag-krus o pagbiyahe mismo sa national highway, hindi ang pagtawid sa tamang tawiran,” the LTO chief said.
[Translation: What is prohibited is the actual plying of light e-vehicles on national highways, but not the crossing on allowed roads.]
Lacanilao said it is the job of lawmakers to pass clearer measures regarding light e-vehicles to ensure the protection of road users.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, chairman of the House committee on public accounts and member of the House committee on transportation, assured his colleagues will coordinate with transport agencies and other affected sectors to clarify and simplify the registration process.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority banned e-trikes and e-bikes from national roads beginning April last year, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordering a month-long grace period before penalizing anyone.
