The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will begin penalizing e-trike drivers operating on major roads in Metro Manila starting Friday, January 2, as authorities move to strictly enforce the existing ban.
In a statement, the LTO said enforcement will cover key highways such as EDSA, C-5, Roxas Boulevard, and the stretch from Quirino Avenue to Magallanes along SLEX.
Law enforcers will be deployed at critical points, with violators facing fines and possible impoundment of their e-trikes.
LTO chief Markus Lacanilao said major roads are not designed for slow-moving and light vehicles.
“Ang mga pangunahing lansangang ito ay idinisenyo para sa mas mabilis at mas malalaking sasakyan… 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.
Lacanilao added that the agency is awaiting more detailed guidelines from the Department of Transportation and will coordinate with local government units to identify alternative routes for e-trike drivers.
The strict enforcement follows commitments made by the LTO during a Senate hearing in November, where lawmakers raised safety concerns over unregistered e-trikes and e-bikes operating on major roads without licenses.
While apprehensions were initially set to begin in December, the LTO first conducted an information drive before implementing penalties.
“Binibigyang-diin ng LTO na ang layunin ng hakbang na ito ay hindi upang ipagbawal ang paggamit ng nga e-trikes sa pangkalahatan, kundi upang maiwasan ang aksidente at matiyak ang kaligtasan at kaayusan sa ating mga lansangan,” Lacanilao said.
The enforcement aligns with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s ban on e-trikes and e-bikes on national roads, which took effect in April 2024 after a one-month grace period ordered by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.