MANILA, Philippines–In a bid to promote sustainable public transport and support the tourism industry, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has allowed e-tricycles to operate within city tourist areas.
Memorandum Circular No. 2019-44, signed on Sept. 3 and effective on Sept. 5, now includes e-trikes as tourist transport services to augment the array of available modes in tourist areas.
Their services, however, are separate from normal e-trike services.
For one, tourist e-trikes can only run within their designated city government’s tourism area as defined by the Department of Tourism or Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.
They must also secure franchise applications from both agencies and are required to comply with existing laws, ordinances and policies governing the particular tourist area.
No e-trike is allowed to operate on national highways where the normal speed is around 40 kilometers per hour.
However, the city government may provide exemptions if there are no other alternatives.
Meanwhile, operators must only employ drivers duly licensed under the Land Transportation Office.