Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, wants to void the penalties imposed on users of e-bikes and e-trikes caught this week using national roads in Metro Manila.
Poe made the call after the Metropolitan Manila Development complied with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for a one-month grace period on the national roads ban on e-trikes and e-bikes.
"Tulad nang palugit na ibinigay ng Pangulo, marapat lamang na mabigyan din ng grace period ang mga naunang nahuli mula sa multa at impounding," Poe said on Friday, April 19, in a statement.
The senator urged the MMDA to make use of the one-month grace period to further disseminate information on the ban.
"Dapat lang na mabigyan ang mga motorista ng sapat na panahon para makasunod sa bagong regulasyon, lalo na’t may kalituhan kung ano lang ang pinagbabawal at kung saan pwede dumaan ang mga light electric vehicles na hindi sakop ng ban," Poe stressed.
"Kinikilala natin ang importansiya ng information dissemination lalo na sa mga bagong haing polisiya na marahil ay nagdudulot ng kalituhan sa marami," she added.
Poe also called for the MMDA and other involved agencies to meet with stakeholders in order to create balanced policies that take into consideration the plight of commuters without compromising the safety of the streets
"We urge the MMDA, LGUs, and other traffic authorities to use this time to inform the public about this new directive,” Poe said.
"The popularity of e-trikes and e-bikes reflect the inadequacy and inefficiency of public transportation in the country," she added.
In a social media post last Thursday, April 18, President Marcos shared that he ordered the MMDA and LGUs to give a one-month grace period on the implementation of the national road ban for e-trikes, and e-bikes.
The ban, stated under MMDA Regulation 24-022, prohibits e-bikes, e-trikes, tricycles, pedicabs, pushcarts, and kuligligs from using the national roads, circumferential roads, and radial roads in Metro Manila.
Violators of the ban received a fine of Php 2,500, and had their vehicles impounded.
- C1: Recto Avenue
- C2: Pres. Quirino Avenue
- C3: Araneta Avenue
- C4: EDSA
- C5: Katipunan/CP Garcia
- C6: Southeast Metro Manila Expressway
- R1: Roxas Boulevard
- R2: Taft Avenue
- R3: Osmeña Highway (formerly South Super Highway)
- R4: Shaw Boulevard
- R5: Ortigas Avenue
- R6: Magsaysay Blvd./Aurora Blvd.
- R7: Quezon Ave./Commonwealth Ave.
- R8: A. Bonifacio Ave.
- R9: Rizal Ave.
- R10: Del Pan/Marcos Highway/McArthur Highway
- Elliptical Road
- Mindanao Avenue
- Marcos Highway
- Boni Avenue (Mandaluyong)
- España Boulevard
