LTO to bar e-bikes, e-tricycles on national roads by early 2026

MANILA: Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said that the agency will move the ban on e-bikes and e-tricycles on national roads to January 2, 2026. 

In a video posted over the agency's social media page, the official also stated that an information drive will be conducted prior to clearing major roads of light electric vehicles (LEV). 

The link to the video posted on LTO’s official Facebook page can be found, here.

LTO has authority to impound LEVS

In addition, the LTO clarified that the agency has the authority to impound electric bikes and electric tricycles.

Such a statement was made after Bicol Saro Partylist Representative Terry Ridon questioned the move to prohibit LEV on national roads.

To recall, Ridon said that electric bikes and electric tricycles are not registered with LTO; therefore, the country’s land transport bureau cannot impound these vehicles.

“The LTO has a clear legal authority to enforce traffic laws, and when necessary, to impound vehicles, including LEVs (light electric vehicles) when they are illegally using national roads and endangering other road users,” the LTO Chief was quoted as saying.

“Kapag ang isang LEV — e-bike o e-trike — ay pumasok sa national highway kung saan sila bawal at lumalabag sa traffic regulation, may kapangyarihan ang LTO na mag apprehend at when warranted, impound the unit (when an LEV — e-bike or e-trike — enters a national highway where they are prohibited and violates traffic regulations, the LTO has the power to apprehend and when warranted, impound the unit),” he added.

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Lacanilao also explained that while LEV units are prohibited from cruising through highways, but can still cross through national roads if there is a need to reach the other side of the thoroughfare.

In response to Ridon’s remarks, Lacanilao clarified that if an LEV is involved in a car crash or accident wherein there is no way of identifying the vehicle’s owner, it is the lawmaker’s role to draft and create laws that would protect road users.

“Doon sa may mabigat na punto, kung dumating ang panahon na may mangyaring aksidente, may masagasaan, may mamatay, o may seryosong sakuna na kinakasangkutan ng isang LEV na walang plaka, walang rehistro, at walang malinaw na pagkakakilanlan, mahihirapan tayong matunton kung sino ang may ari o responsable. Trabaho nang mambabatas ang magbalangkas ng mas malinaw at mas modernong batas para sa LEVS upang lubusang maprotektahan ang bawat Pilipino (For one critical point, if the time comes when an accident occurs, someone gets run over, someone dies, or there is an untoward involving an LEV that has no license plate, no registration, and no clear identification, we will have a hard time tracking down who owns or is responsible. It is the job of the legislator to draft a clearer and more modern law for LEVS to fully protect every Filipino),” Lacanilao commented.

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