The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is coordinating with concerned government agencies for the regulation and licensing of e-bikes and e-scooters.
From January to May this year, MMDA has recorded 64 accidents involving e-bikes, 16 accidents involving e-trikes, and 2 accidents involving e-scooters.
For that reason, Atty. Vic Nuñez, Director of MMDA Traffic Enforcement Group, said it’s time to implement the recently passed Republic Act 11697 otherwise known as the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.
Republic Act 11697 is the national development plan for the electric vehicles (EV) industry in the Philippines. It primarily aims to accelerate the development, commercialization, and utilization of electric vehicles.
Under Sec. 9 of RA 11697, DOTr is designated as the primary agency tasked with the development of electric vehicle demand generation, regulation and registration of electric vehicles, as well as regulation of electric vehicles used for public transportation.
With gas prices the highest they’ve ever been, a lot of people have resorted to electric scooters and bikes to commute to work.
However, according to MMDA, the following electric vehicles require driver’s license and LTO registration:
- E-SCOOTER L2B (26-50 KPH)
- E-MOTORCYCLE (EXCEEDING 50 KPH)
- E-TRIKE
- E-QUAD
- E-CAR
- E-SUV
- E-UTILITY (JEEP OR VEHICLE)
- E-BUS
Moreover, e-scooters and the like are required to wear protective gears.