MMDA defers imposition of penalties for E-trikes on nat’l roads
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), in compliance with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ directive, will use the one-month grace period to inform the public of the prohibition on e-bikes, e-trikes, tricycles, pedicabs, push carts, and kuligligs from traversing national roads in Metro Manila.
MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes said they received the President’s directive on Thursday morning to partially suspend the implementation of the MMDA Regulation 24-002 Series of 2024.
He said the agency will study how to go about the cancellation of citation tickets issued to 290 violators and the return of 69 impounded vehicles from April 17 until the suspension of the issuance of tickets Thursday morning.
“We will find a way to make the directive of the president retroactive.”
Under the grace period, the MMDA will continue flagging down violators of the ban but will not issue tickets and the vehicles will not be impounded. Instead, they will be informed of the regulation and advised about alternate roads they can use.
“We will strengthen the widest dissemination of information through the media, social media platforms, and all other mediums of the local government units,” said Artes, citing that consultations and conferences have been conducted while announcements and advisories have been issued to the public prior to the enforcement of the ban.
Before the grace period ends, Artes said they will submit a report and make necessary recommendations to the President.
According to Artes, the P2,500 penalty for violators will also remain once they resume the issuance of tickets, explaining that such a penalty is really “punitive” because repetitive violations of the law occur when the penalty is minimal.
Artes also brushed off criticisms on the strict implementation of the regulation, citing “ang batas ay mahigpit, mabigat; pero ang batas ay dapat sundin. Just like any regulation on traffic rules and policies, we will strictly enforce them, without partiality.”
Under the Metro Manila Council (MMC)-approved MMDA Regulation No. 24-002, e-bikes, e-trikes, tricycles, pedicabs, push carts, and kuligligs are banned from traversing national roads, circumferential roads, and radial roads in Metro Manila.
