MANILA, October 17 ------ The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has temporarily suspended the registration of light electric vehicles (LEV) such as e-trikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters.
In a media interview, LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza said the agency was holding off on requiring LEV users to get a driver’s license while it ironed out roadworthiness regulations for these vehicles. “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,” he said. Mendoza added there was clamor to lower the age requirement for licensing. “Baka pwedeng babaan daw kaysa 17, 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.
The review followed the Department of Transportation’s order for LTO “to withhold issuances which are inconsistent with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), which promotes the use of e-vehicles and sustainable energy. But Mendoza insisted that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) policy banning LEVs on major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region remained in place.
The same goes for similar LEV ordinances passed by local government units, he said. That’s despite the memorandum posted by the LTO stating that “the delegation of authority to promulgate rules on the operations of EVs (e.g. type of roads that LEV users can traverse) with the MMDA and LGUs” is also suspended.
ABS-CBN News has reached out to the DOTr for clarification but it has yet to issue a statement on the matter. “Hindi natin ginagalaw yun. That’s within their (MMDA/LGU) authority naman e na magtalaga ng mga polisiya sa paggamit ng kalye within their jurisdiction,” said Mendoza. “Pero kung manghuhuli sila dahil walang lisensya or hindi rehistrado yung LEV, hindi muna, suspended muna yun,” he added.
The MMDA also stood its ground. “Yes, we’ll continue kasi ang basis naman namin ay MMC (Metro Manila Council) resolution. Tuloy pa rin yung pinagbabawal namin… dahil nagko-cause ng traffic and delikado pa rin sila,” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said in a separate press briefing. But an active transport advocacy group asserted that there should only be one government agency regulating the use of light electric vehicles to avoid confusing and contradictory policies. “Malinaw sa LTO suspension at doon sa EVIDA law na talagang ang DOTr yung may kapangyarihan na mag-regulate ng electric vehicles,” said AltMobility PH Director Ira Cruz. “Mahirap din na salasalabid yung ating policies na yung DOTr nagpo-promote, ang Presidente nagbababa ng tariff (for light e-vehicles), tapos ang gustong gawin ng ibang national government agencies, i-restrict,” added Cruz.
The Move As One Coalition said it would continue opposing the MMDA’s “restrictive” policy. “We’re still studying it, pushing for pressure to be applied upon MMDA so that they will retract it,” said the group’s Active Transport Lead Mary Abigail Modales. Meanwhile, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) said it did not see the suspended LTO regulations running “in contrary to the objectives and spirit of EVIDA.”
In a statement, EVAP President Edmund Araga supported 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 helmet, and road restrictions of some light electric vehicle classes are important rulings that will ensure a safer use of the vehicles,” said Araga.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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