ONE-MONTH GRACE PERIOD A Metropolitan Manila Development Authority inspector supervises the loading of seized electronic vehicles onto a tow truck after they were impounded on Thursday on Quirino Avenue in Parañaque City. This was before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a month-long suspension of the imposition of penalties against violators of the e-vehicle ban on major metro roads to make way for an information campaign. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday ordered the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to suspend for a month its crackdown on e-bikes and e-tricycles caught passing through major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“Today, I issue the order for the MMDA and all local government units in Metro Manila to grant a grace period to drivers of e-bikes and e-trikes and other affected motorists plying on some selected streets in the metropolis.” , said Marcos. on X (formerly Twitter).
READ: Marcos orders MMDA: grace period before e-trike ban
“I've seen in the news how enforcement against electric vehicles on national roads has been very strict and I can't help but feel sorry for them,” he added.
“We must give [e-bike and e-trike users] the chance to familiarize themselves with the new rules so they can adjust accordingly,” said Marcos, highlighting the “heavy” fine imposed on violators.
During the one-month grace period, violators will not be fined and fined P2,500, while traffic authorities will not be able to impound vehicles that are not registered or operated by someone without a driver's license, he added.
According to the President, offenders should only be informed about which roads they can use and also be reminded of the new policy that aims to guarantee their safety and order on the roads.
But he clarified that the grace period does not mean that these types of vehicles are no longer prohibited from plying, crossing or navigating on circumferential and radial roads in NCR.
READ: Driving vs e-vehicles, tricycles on main roads, 131 networks
The MMDA began seizing electronic vehicles such as electric bicycles and electric tricycles, as well as tricycles and pedicabs plying on major roads in Metro Manila starting April 15, amid the high number of accidents involving these types of vehicles.
According to the President, the government needs to carry out a massive information campaign to make drivers of electronic vehicles aware of the ban.
MMDA will hold briefing
As of press time, the MMDA had not yet reacted to the President's order, except to announce that MMDA Acting President Romando Artes would hold a press conference on the matter on Friday.
According to implementation guidelines issued by Artes last month, the head of the MMDA, “based on extreme urgency and necessity, may suspend the operation of MMDA Regulation 2024-002, in whole or in part.”
The latest data from the MMDA showed that as of Thursday, drivers of 201 vehicles were ticketed and fined P2,500 each for violating the ban. The seized vehicles were 111 tricycles, 4 pedicabs, 51 e-trikes, 34 e-bikes and a light electric vehicle. Of the 201 vehicles, 69 were seized.
Ira Cruz, director of AltMobility PH, a group that advocates for sustainable and inclusive transportation systems, welcomed the President's decision.
Unable to save your signature. Please try again.
Your subscription was successful.
“We see this as an indication that the president listens to public sentiment. We hope that the MMDA will take the President’s lead in incorporating humanity into policy. [We are] reiterating our call for a comprehensive plan to begin resolving transportation issues,” Cruz said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
