DOTr still reviewing e-scooter registration proposal

MANILA: E-scooter owners, don’t panic just yet. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is still reviewing the proposal of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to require e-scooters to be duly registered with the agency.

Earlier last week, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said that he was actually not in favor of compelling e-scooter owners to register their units. He did state, however, that he will be listening to opinions and arguments from both regulators and stakeholders.

“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.

“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.

According to LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, the proposal to have e-scooter owners register their unit is 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.

Galvante added that e-scooters should 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.

Photo from Ford

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