Philippines’ Marcos Jnr urges delay in ban on light vehicles: ‘we need more time’

The president’s call for a ‘grace period’ follows backlash to the ban and gives advocacy groups hope for a reconsideration of the ban

In February, authorities issued a resolution banning small electric vehicles such as e-bicycles and e-tricycles on nearly 20 national roads and highways in Metro Manila

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An electric tricycle traverses a street in Manila. There were 44,493 vehicular accidents in Metro Manila from January to July last year, 44,000 of which involved four-wheel vehicles. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:00pm, 20 Apr 2024

Commuters in Metro Manila who rely on light electric vehicles like e-bikes received a reprieve after President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr sought to delay a ban on the vehicles following public backlash.

“We need more time for the widespread dissemination of information on this ban,” Marcos Jnr said in a statement on Thursday, three days after the ban went into effect.

His announcement has been met with appreciation from commuter advocacy groups who hoped it would lead to a reconsideration of the ban, which they consider to be unfairly biased towards car owners.

In February, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) – a government agency under the Office of the President overseeing transport and road safety across the capital region – issued a resolution banning small electric vehicles such as e-bicycles and e-tricycles on nearly 20 national roads and highways in Metro Manila.

This sparked anger from members of the public, including from commuter groups and alternative transport advocates.

Community-led cycling groups such as the Make It Safer movement led a protest on April 10 at the human rights commission in Quezon City, days before the ban was to be implemented.

The president said he has instructed the MMDA to provide some leeway to the affected vehicles travelling along the roads identified in the resolution.