Photo courtesy of Yancy Lim-PNA.
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has temporarily suspended the registration of light electric vehicles (LEVs) such as e-trikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters to further study their roadworthiness.
LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza said, “Road safety is paramount. Hindi pwedeng walang ilaw, at the very least. Kailangan may helmet man lang. So these are the standards that we have to put together.”
(Road safety is paramount. They must have lights, at the very least, and a helmet.)
“Of course. At the soonest possible time, we would like to put up guidelines that will govern the usage of light electric vehicles in the event we find them roadworthy. If they are roadworthy, that would not be a problem,” Mendoza said, adding that the agency was holding off on requiring LEV users to get a driver’s license as the agency continues this study on the guidelines.
Mendoza clarified that the policy of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) banning LEVs on major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region (NCR) remained in place.
The same goes for similar LEV ordinances passed by local government units, he said.
“That’s within their (MMDA/LGU) authority, na magtalaga ng mga polisiya sa paggamit ng kalye within their jurisdiction. Pero kung manghuhuli sila dahil walang lisensya or hindi rehistrado yung LEV, hindi muna, suspended muna yun,” he added.
(That’s within their authority to implement policies on the use of roads within their jurisdictions. But if they would apprehend because the LEV user doesn’t have a license or the vehicle is not registered, that’s suspended for now.)
The MMDA earlier ordered a ban on LEVs on major thoroughfares in the NCR, noting that these vehicles usually cause traffic congestion and put people at risk of accidents.
The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) has expressed support for the policy requiring the registration of LEVs and licensing of users for the sake of road safety.
“The provisions of the administrative order on the driver’s license, mandatory registration, mandatory use of a helmet, and road restrictions of some light electric vehicle classes are important rulings that will ensure a safer use of the vehicles,” the group said.
Mendoza also said there was clamor to lower the age requirement for licensing.
“Baka pwedeng babaan daw kaysa 17, ay 16 pwede na. Especially also in the provinces where there is no other form of transport. Yun lang ang nakita ng mga magulang na magandang pamamaraan at tipid para sa kanilang mga anak. So we’re reviewing,” he added.
(They are asking if we could lower the age requirement for the license; instead of 17, they ask us if we could perhaps make it 16, especially in the provinces where there is a lack of transportation and the use of LEVs helps them save on transportation expenses, especially for the children.) (PIA DMD)
