Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade himself is not in favor of e-scooters and e-bikes registration to Land Transporation Office (LTO) as public transport vehicles are still limited amid the community quarantines.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) clarified Thursday that there are no official or final e-scooters and e-bikes registration guidelines yet.
“The one submitted to us is an initial draft that is yet to be reviewed by the DOTr Road Sector, Legal Affairs, and the Office of the Secretary,” it said.
LTO announced Tuesday that it already submitted the electric scooter and e-bikes registration guidelines to DOTr.
Aside from the registration, drivers would also need to acquire a license to drive such vehicles, LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante said.
He said the DOTr is now drafting a memorandum circular that will set guidelines and oversee all kinds of electric vehicles such as e-scooters and two-wheeled e-bikes.
“Generally, sa ating batas, Republic Act 4136, irregardless kung ito ay electric- or gas-powered vehicle, kailangan ito ay registered at ang gumagamit ay lisensyado,” Galvante said in an interview on Tuesday.
(Generally, under our law, Republic Act 4136, regardless if it is an electric- or gas-powered vehicle, it must be registered and the user should have a license.)
E-scooters, e-bikes registration to LTO
However, the DOTr said, “Sec. Tugade was interviewed on the issue of e-scooters yesterday, and he said that personally, he is not in favor of having e-scooters registered, especially now that we are in a pandemic.”
“Sec. Tugade said that he will listen to the opinions/arguments of regulators and stakeholders,” it said.
Meanwhile, Clean Air Movement Philippines said, “requiring an LTO drivers license now for e-scooters/e-bikes riders will not help our difficult efforts to bring back the Philipppine economy to recovery amidst the decision of President Duterte to revert back to the one-meter distancing within confined spaces in our mass transport which effectively limits maximum passengers load.”
“Safe transport which adheres completely to our govt’s minimum health standards (particularly on social distancing) must be encouraged and supported instead for the sake of the health and lives of our people and the equally important Philippine economy,” the group added.