BACOLOD CITY - This city started apprehending illegal e-bikes on Friday, May 24.
This was announced by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez after he recently convened barangay chairmen and urged them to abide by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular (MC) 2020-036 which prohibits tricycles, pedicabs, and motorized pedicabs from operating on national highways.
BENITEZ (Glazyl Masculino)
The need to regulate e-bikes and e-trikes came to the attention of the mayor after various tricycle drivers and operators raised their concerns on the proliferation of unregistered e-bikes and e-trikes here that has affected their livelihood.
Benitez said that there is a need for the local government to immediately address the problem to protect the industry, operators, and ensure the safety of the riding public.
“We need to create guidelines and policies and eventually have it enacted as an ordinance so that there is proper regulation,” the mayor said.
Benitez had earlier directed barangay chairmen to submit their accredited e-bike operators for the issuance of an authority to operate in barangays.
“The moratorium will start on (May) 24,” Benitez said, adding that the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) will apprehend e-bikes without proper permit starting Friday.
Benitez said that the move aims to ensure the safety of commuters and drivers on the road.
“As I’ve said, the city is not here to make money out of this, but merely just to regulate them,” he added.