The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced a sweeping ban on electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) from all major roads nationwide, effective December 1, 2025. This decisive policy aims to address the severe traffic congestion plaguing urban centers, particularly in Metro Cebu.
Traffic Congestion and Safety Concerns
The primary justification for the ban stems from the slow-moving nature of e-vehicles disrupting traffic flow. On Cebu City's two-lane roads, following behind an e-trike often requires waiting for the opposite lane to clear before overtaking. This creates vehicle pile-ups and significant delays, causing many employees to arrive late for work.
The policy represents a shift in priority, where the needs of a few drivers cannot override the majority's right to smooth and safe travel. As one transportation official noted, "The necessity of the few should not defeat the necessity of the majority for orderly and safe travel."
Contrasting Approaches in Metro Cebu
Metro Cebu showcases two different approaches to handling e-vehicle regulation. Mandaue City, under Chief Hyll Retuya of TEAM, has courageously enforced a total ban on e-bikes and e-trikes from its major thoroughfares since last year, demonstrating a strong stance for immediate traffic solutions.
Meanwhile, Cebu City has adopted a different strategy through City Ordinance 2531 implemented back in 2019. Instead of a complete prohibition, the ordinance focuses on regulation, requiring annual registration of e-trikes and restricting them to designated interior routes, with penalty fines and impoundment for violators.
Discipline and Accountability Issues
The problem extends beyond mere speed limitations to issues of discipline and accountability. In many parts of Cebu, such as Pasil and Tres de Abril, passenger e-trikes have become increasingly common despite safety concerns.
Worrying behavior among some drivers includes disregarding traffic rules—entering one-way streets, counterflowing, and ignoring stop signals—creating risks for both passengers and other motorists. In accident scenarios, whether you hit them or they hit you, you're at a disadvantage since traffic personnel cannot confiscate licenses from unlicensed e-trike drivers.
While local governments have considered the livelihood of e-trike drivers, it's worth noting that before passenger e-trikes became popular, these drivers had other means of income.
Broader Traffic Enforcement Challenges
E-trikes aren't the only traffic concern. Our roads suffer from various other violations requiring strict enforcement:
- Noise Pollution: Modified motorcycle exhausts, especially during late nights, violate people's right to proper sleep
- Illegal Parking: Motorcycle owners parking haphazardly along roadsides, such as in Sityo Sto. Niño, Barangay Quiot, make roads narrow and dangerous
There is a growing call for local government units, together with barangay and concerned agencies, to demonstrate strength and determination in enforcing traffic regulations. The safety and orderliness of the community must take priority above all other considerations.
