Philippines’ Transportation Agency to Impound E-bikes and E-trikes on Major Roads Starting December 1

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The Philippine Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to enforce a stricter crackdown on electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) plying major thoroughfares, with officials confirming that violators will face automatic impoundment starting December 1.

The commitment was made by LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao during the Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday.

According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Senator JV Ejercito, the budget sponsor for the DOTr, relayed the agency’s stance after conferring with transportation officials.

“Our new LTO head, Assistant Secretary Lacanilao, has committed that by December 1, all e-trikes on the streets will be apprehended,” Ejercito said.

The move comes amidst growing concerns regarding road safety and the regulation of light electric vehicles. Senator Raffy Tulfo, who raised the issue during the interpellations, highlighted the disparity between traditional fuel-powered tricycles and their electric counterparts.

“There you go, e-bikes and e-trikes—starting December 1, refrain from plying your route,” Tulfo stated, as quoted in the Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

Tulfo pointed out that unlike traditional tricycle operators who are subject to strict regulation, many e-trike and e-bike users are currently unregistered, unlicensed, and uninsured.

“So maybe it’s about time we consider requiring these e-bike drivers and operators to get a driver’s license. If not, they should be apprehended, or the LGU should be warned,” Tulfo added.

Automatic Impoundment Policy

The enforcement represents a shift from previous leniency to a zero-tolerance approach on national roads. When pressed on the penalties for violators without licenses, Ejercito confirmed the severity of the new directive.

“According to LTO, and DOTr, automatic impound na (it is automatic impoundment),” Ejercito explained. “That’s what the LTO says: from now on, especially on main thoroughfares, they will automatically impound them.”

However, Acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez agreed to a suggestion from Senator Tulfo to prioritize public awareness before full implementation.

“According to our Secretary, by December 1, they will first conduct an information drive. They will go around just to inform everyone they see,” Ejercito said. “So they will first give everyone a chance to be informed.”

Ambiguity on “E-Trike” Classifications

Despite the firm announcement, confusion remains regarding the specific scope of the “e-trike” ban. The term “e-trike” is often used interchangeably to describe two distinct categories of vehicles, leading to uncertainty among commuters and operators.

It remains unclear whether the ban applies strictly to small, household-use three-wheelers, or if it also encompasses the larger, commercially operated electric tricycles that currently serve as public transportation in major cities.

For instance, the City of Manila utilizes fleets of larger e-trikes that legally ply major thoroughfares, such as Taft Avenue and parts of Binondo, under franchises issued by the Local Government Unit (LGU).

Senator Ejercito acknowledged this jurisdictional conflict during the hearing. “Ejercito explained that these e-bikes and e-trikes are supposed to be prohibited from using the main thoroughfares, but some were able to get franchises from local government units (LGUs),” the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

This gray area between national LTO regulation (RA 4136) and the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA Law)—which empowers LGUs to regulate light electric vehicles within their territories—has been a point of contention for legal experts. Lawyers and advocacy groups have previously warned that blanket bans may conflict with the EVIDA Law, which encourages the use of electric vehicles, and could disenfranchise operators who have secured valid permits from their local city halls.

As the December 1 deadline approaches, the transport sector awaits the final guidelines that will determine if the LGU-franchised public transport e-trikes will be swept up in the LTO’s dragnet along with private users.