E-trikes are illegal and subject to apprehension and impounding as mandated by law if used for public transport in the absence of the needed Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Alberta Janine Lawas, chief of the Land Transportation Office extension office in Bayawan City, made the clarification following the recent visit of LTO Assistant Regional Director Alita Pulga and party early this week.
The LTO Assistant Regional Director and the LTO Chiefs in Negros Oriental were supposedly to appear before Monday’s regular session of the Provincial Board upon invitation by the latter to shed light on the status of e-trikes, said Lawas.
The session, however, was postponed to an unannounced future date
Nevertheless, the LTO has reiterated that unless otherwise authorized by law, the operation of e-trikes in Negros Oriental is illegal.
Lawas cited LTO’s Administrative Order 2006-01 and Memorandum Circular 721-2006 as their bases in the registration of these e-trikes to include other concerns.
According to her, as of this moment, the e-trikes can only be registered with LTO for private use.
They cannot be registered as public conveyance in the absence of the IRR for such purpose, she added.
In cases where a local government unit will issue a permit to operate the e-trike as public conveyance, there stands a conflict between that LGU and the LTO, she said.
LTO, when conducting roadside operations, is authorized to impound e-trikes if found ferrying passengers, especially if the unit is registered as a private vehicle, Lawas said.
For now, it is imperative to fast track the IRR for the e-trikes to be registered for public transport, she added. (PNA)
