Gogoro Philippines, a high-end, two-wheel electric vehicle (EV) retailer, clarified that its Smartscooters are allowed to traverse major roads, as authorized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The company made the statement amid the recent issuance of MMDA Regulation No. 24-022 Series of 2024, stating that electric bikes (e-bikes), e-trikes, tricycles, pedicabs, pushcarts, and "kuligligs" are prohibted from passing national roads, circumferential, and radial roads within the National Capital Region (NCR).
Gogoro Philippines is a joint venture between one of Globe Group's portfolio companies 917Ventures Inc., Ayala Corporation, and Taiwan-based firm Gogoro, specializing in sustainable mobility.
Its products include the Gogoro SuperSport, Gogoro Delight, and Gogoro S2 Premium, which are categorized as Category L3 e-motorcycles pertaining to two-wheeled vehicles capable of running more than 50 kilometers per hour (km/ph).
The firm cited Land Transportation Office's (LTO) Administrative Order No. 2021-0039, which mandates LTO registration and a driver's license to operate for these vehicles.
Notably, Category L3 3-motorycles are allowed on the roads covered in the ban, except for limited access highways like expressways.
"Together with the MMDA and our other national agency partners, we will continue to promote road safety and compliance with road rules and regulations," said the company.
The MMDA and the Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of the mayors of the cities in NCR, agreed to ban e-bikes and e-trikes on major roads in the region, effective in April this year.
The initial identified roads by the MMDA and MMC were Recto Avenue, Quirino Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Katipunan/CP Garcia, Southeast Metro Manila Expressway, Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, South Luzon Expressway, Shaw Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue, Magsaysay Boulevard/Aurora Boulevard, Quezon Avenue/Commonwealth Avenue, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Rizal Avenue, Delpan/Marcos Highway/McArthur Highway, Elliptical Road, Mindanao Avenue and Marcos Highway.
The local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila will also draft their own ordinances to determine the banned roads in their respective jurisdictions.