MANILA, Philippines — Only electric scooters and e-bicycles, regardless of vehicle capacity, which are registered with the Land Transportation Office will be allowed to use public roads under a proposal of the LTO.
LTO chief Vigor Mendoza said the proposal for the mandatory registration of these electric vehicles (EVs) would be submitted to the Department of Transportation.
Under LTO Administrative Order 2021-035, EVs with a maximum speed of less than 25 kilometers are not required to register with the LTO.
“There should be no speed limitation. For as long as these vehicles are used in public roads, they should be registered,” Mendoza told the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum yesterday.
“We understand the side of the manufacturers and importers and the public, but the law is the law,” he added.
Mendoza said registration of e-vehicles would help motorists with road safety, especially if the vehicle is involved in accidents.
He said unregistered e-bikes can only be used within private roads or subdivisions.
Motorists driving unregistered vehicles or with expired vehicle registration face a fine of P10,000.
Mendoza said minors should not be allowed to drive EVs.
Unregistered vehicles
Meanwhile, the LTO said 12.9 million motorcycles in the country remain unregistered.At a public hearing of the Senate justice committee chaired by Sen. Francis Tolentino on proposed amendments to Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, the LTO said two million cars and trucks are also unregistered.
Mendoza said many delinquent motorcycle owners either forget to renew their registration or fail to transfer ownership after purchasing the vehicle.
Citing LTO data, Mendoza said only 13.9 million of the 38 million four-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles on the road were registered as of 2003.
Sen. J.V. Ejercito, author of the bill proposing amendments to RA 11235, said the fines for non-registration of motorcycles should be lowered.
He said the penalty of imprisonment for violating RA 11235 is ”too harsh and discriminatory” to motorcycle owners. — Cecille Suerte Felipe
FROM: PHILSTAR.COM
LTO eyes banning unregistered electric cars from major roads
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is now looking into banning unregistered electric vehicles (e-vehicles) along major thoroughfares, its chief told a Senate hearing on Wednesday. Vehicles running under 25 kilometers per hour are currently not required to register with the LTO. “But as you said, medyo nabahala rin po kami,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II Mendoza said during the hearing of the Senate committee on justice joint with the public services. (But, as you said, we are also a bit worried now.) He was responding to Senator Francis Tolentino, chairman of the justice panel, who asked about the proliferation of e-vehicles even along major streets in the metropolis. The LTO chief then disclosed the agency’s proposal to have a policy change involving e-vehicles which they will discuss with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) next week. “We’ll be proposing a policy change sa DOTr na huwag ng basehan ang speed ng sasakyan but the use of vehicle,” Mendoza said. (We’ll be proposing a policy change to the DOTr not to use the speed of the vehicle as a basis for regulations but the use of the vehicle.) Besides, he said, the law is clear that any motorized vehicle used on the roads must be registered with the LTO and the driver must also have a license. “E kung nasa EDSA na po yun, as you said Buendia e kelangan covered po yun, kailangang rehistrado. So this is a policy change that we’re looking at,” Mendoza added. (And if it’s already on EDSA, as you mentioned, it needs to be covered; it must be registered. So, this is a policy change that we are looking at.) If the proposal is approved, he said, all e-vehicles must secure an LTO license first before they are allowed to use the major roads. “E ‘yun hong mangyayari, huwag ho silang dadaan sa mga major thoroughfares natin o major streets, ‘no. Hindi man kailangang Edsa, kahit Timog or Buendia, ‘pag sila dumaan dun, e kelangan they will have to comply with any other laws applicable to all motorcycles as well,” the LTO chief said. (They shouldn’t pass through our major thoroughfares or major streets. It doesn’t have to be EDSA; even when they pass through Timog or Buendia, they need to comply with any other laws applicable to all motorcycles as well.) Mendoza, meanwhile, assured that all types of e-vehicles — whether two-wheel
FROM: INQUIRER.NET
It's about time to make mandatory registration and licensure requirement on e-bike/e-trike usage. Ang dami kasing feeling sila ang hari ng kalsada.
