By Brian Campued
The earlier announced ban on electric tricycles (e-trikes) on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila officially came into force on Friday, Jan. 2.
According to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), e-trikes are not allowed to ply on key roads such as the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), C-5 Road, Roxas Boulevard, and Quirino Avenue to Magallanes – South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
Those who will be caught operating e-trikes on the said highways will face penalties as provided for in Republic Act No. 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code) and the Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01, including the imposition of fines and impounding of the light electric vehicle.
LTO Chief ASec. Markus Lacanilao stressed that the enforcement of the ban is part of the agency’s efforts to ensure road safety.
“Ang mga pangunahing lansangang ito ay idinisenyo para sa mas mabilis at mas malalaking sasakyan, at hindi angkop para sa mga e-trike dahil sa bilis ng daloy ng trapiko, dami ng sasakyan, at lawak ng mga lansangan. 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,” he said in a news release Thursday.
The LTO chief said that law enforcers would be assigned on key points along the major roads where the e-trike ban is in effect.
He also urged motorists and the public to cooperate with the authorities and follow traffic rules.
“Unawain po natin na ang hakbang na ito ay ginagawa natin para sa kaligtasan ng lahat ng gumagamit ng kalsada,” Lacanilao said.
“Naiintindihan natin na marami sa atin ang umaasa sa mga e-trike bilang paraan ng paglalakbay, kaya naman handa ang LTO na makipagtulungan sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at mga sektor ng industriya para bumuo ng mga ligtas at angkop na ruta para sa mga e-trike sa mga darating na araw,” he added.
The prohibition on e-trikes was supposed to begin on Dec. 1, 2025—however, the LTO backpedalled due to public outcry, moving the implementation a month later to give time for an intensified information drive regarding the policy.
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