Amid a growing clamor for a nationwide registration of small electric vehicles such as e-bicycles and e-tricycles, some local government units in Laguna province have already started their own initiatives to regulate the use of such vehicles.
The latest LGU to do so is the city of Calamba, where a draft ordinance has been filed at the Sangguniang Panglungsod mandating the registration of e-bikes and e-trikes in the city.
Under the draft ordinance, filed by Councilor Jojo Catinding, all e-bikes, e-trikes and similar vehicles plying national and other major roads in Calamba City will be required to be registered with the local government.
The proposed measure, however, exempts e-bikes and e-trikes used inside private roads and subdivisions.
According to Calamba City Vice Mayor Angelito "Totie" Lazaro, Jr., the move not only aims to instill a sense of discipline and responsibility among e-bike and e-trike owners in Calamba City but also protect them in case of accidents.
"Umabot sa 556 e-bike-related crashes ang naitala [sa Metro Manila] noong 2023, kung saan karamihan dito ay dahil sa kakulangan ng regulasyon at disiplina sa kalsada," Lazaro explained in his Facebook page.
Should the proposed ordinance pass into law, Calamba City will become the second LGU in Laguna province to mandate the registration of e-bikes and e-trikes.
A similar measure has been passed in Biñan City in 2023 to mandate the registration of e-bikes, e-trikes and similar vehicles, despite opposition from locals who claim that the ordinance infringes on their right to use their vehicles.
Dangerous situation
The proposed ordinance in Calamba City comes amid a renewed push for the nationwide implementation of the registration of e-bikes and e-trikes.
Media reports now state that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is finalizing guidelines on the registration of so-called “light electric vehicles,” (LEV) under which e-bikes and e-trikes fall under.
Aside from this, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is now reportedly looking to require all LEV drivers to have a valid driver's license.
"Kailangan po nating masigurado na yung mga [driver ng] sasakyan na tatakbo sa ating mga pampublikong daanan ay yung mga dumaan po sa pag-aaral at training," Atty. Greg Pua, executive director of the LTO, was quoted as saying.
In recent years, e-bikes and e-trikes have become a popular and convenient mode of transport among Lagunenses (and Filipinos, in general) who found them relatively cheap as well as easy to maintain compared to gasoline-powered vehicles and motorcycles.
These vehicles have become a favorite among Lagunenses as delivery vehicles or instant school services for their children.
However, e-bikes and e-trikes have also proved to become a danger to other motorists, especially along major roads.
E-bikes and e-trikes now enter national highways, most of them driven by minors, senior citizens or persons without drivers’ licenses, who often disregard traffic rules and regulations.
In 2024, the LTO initially started out the mandatory registration of LEVs at the national level, but the program was suspended pending clearer guidelines on roadworthiness regulations for these vehicles.
E-bike ban
Meanwhile, LTO officials have announced that they will start apprehending and impounding e-bikes and e-trikes plying major thoroughfares starting December 1.
During a recent Senate hearing, Senator JV Ejercito, citing officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), reported that officials have also pledged to conduct information drives to educate drivers and operators on the planned e-bike ban.
“According to our Secretary, by December 1, they will first conduct an information drive. They will go around just to inform everyone they see,” Ejercito said.
“So they will first give everyone a chance to be informed. There will be an information campaign before they start apprehending anyone,” he added.
Update: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has decided to suspend the impounding of e-bikes and e-trikes caught plying national roads on December 1. LTO officials said that the agency will first focus on a wide information drive to help users understand the rules for LEVs, and that traffic enforcers will “educate” motorists instead of penalizing them. - The Editors
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