There have been a lot of talks over the past year about banning e-trikes and e-quads from using highways, but after several back-and-forths, the President eventually vetoed what should have been the final decision. Now, it seems things are about to change yet again.
In a recent hearing for the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Transportation, Senator JV Ejercito announced that Land Transportation Office chief Markus Lacanilao has ordered the e-trike ban anew, effective December 1, 2025.
“Pag nasa main thoroughfares po, especially, automatic, i-impound na po nila,” said Ejercito. “Main thoroughfares, bawal na po talaga sila. Siguro po bibigyan natin ng leeway sa barangay or sa mga subdivisions. Pero sa main thoroughfares ay talagang hindi na po sila papayagan.”
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Ejercito said that the DOTr will coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and inform the various local government units regarding this new directive.
The LTO and DOTr will be studying the registrability and safety of these e-trikes, which includes the issuance of licenses to the e-trike operators. “They will need to re-evaluate—mag-public consultation sila if this will really be allowed. Kasi nga po nakita natin ’yung mga video, nakakatakot po, no? Napakagaan. Pag sinalpok, talagang yung safety ng mga nasa loob, talagang dapat i-consider.”
We expect to hear more updates from the transportation agencies today or over the weekend, as the ban will begin this coming Monday. Once we have more info, we’ll come out with a full and detailed explainer on this. Watch this space.
