MMDA to find a way to cancel violations of e-vehicles under ban

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it would check the possibility of voiding issued tickets and releasing impounded e-vehicles under a ban imposed starting April 15.

MMDA head Romando Artes said this move is not a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but an initiative from the agency to make the chief executive’s order “retroactive.”

The citations were given and e-vehicles were impounded on April 17, or two days after a rule prohibiting e-trikes, e-bikes, as well as tricycles, pedicabs, pushcarts, and tractor-drawn carts known as “kuliglig,” along major thoroughfares began.

The MMDA issued 290 tickets and impounded 69 e-bikes and e-trikes since Wednesday.

On Thursday, however, Marcos ordered the MMDA to give a one-month grace period before imposing the ban.

“Hahanap po kami ng paraan para ma-cancel ang mga ticket na ito, at makikipagtulungan po kami sa mga lgus [local government units] kung paano mapapasauli ‘yung 69 na impounded,” he added.

(We will find a way to cancel these tickets and collaborate with the local government units on how to return the 69 impounded e-vehicles.)

READ: MMDA: E-bikes, trikes banned on key NCR roads by April 15

“Kinakailangan lang po naming aralin ‘yung mechanics dahil nga po naka-issue na kami ng ticket at may proseso po ‘yung pagre-release ng impounded,” he added.

(We need to study the mechanics because we’ve already issued the ticket, and there’s a process for releasing the impounded ones.)

However, Artes clarified that the possible cancellation of tickets and release of e-vehicles only apply to those apprehended by the MMDA and not by enforcers from local government units.