e-Scooter Registration Proposal Still Up For Review

 The Department of Transportation (DOTr) clarified that the proposal of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to require the registration of e-scooters and e-bikes is still under review, even as Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade expressed apprehension about its immediate implementation.

In a statement, the DOTr said the policy was still in its initial draft with no official or final guidelines yet.

"The one submitted to us is an initial draft that is yet to be reviewed by the DOTr Road Sector, Legal Affairs, and the Office of the Secretary," the statement read.

In a radio interview over DZRH, Tugade expressed his personal opinion that he was not in favor of having e-scooters registered in the middle of the pandemic.

However, Tugade said he would listen to the opinions and arguments of regulators and stakeholders on the matter.

Tugade said while the proposal was still up for review, he was personally not in favor of registering e-bikes and e-scooters.

He noted that the registration of large or four-wheeled vehicles is postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"'Yung rehistro ng mga sasakyan pinostpone natin. In-extend natin. Eh bakit ngayon pati e-scooter gagawing motorsiklo? Tignan natin ang malawak na pananaw diyan. Pandemiya ho ngayon ito (Car registrations were already postponed. We extended this. Why should we now register e-scooters like motorcycles? We need to look at the big picture. We’'re in a pandemic)," Tugade said.

Earlier, LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante said the LTO submitted the proposed policy based on Republic Act 4136 that identifies the types of vehicles allowed on the road and consultations with electric vehicle distributors and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

He said e-scooters, being in a smaller category, do not need a certificate of registration but must be listed with their respective local government units while electric kick scooters should only be allowed in subdivisions and other closed compounds.