MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday lifted his ban on electronic tricycles and allowed 280 e-trike drivers to resume plying their routes after ordering the cancellation of their permits last week on safety considerations.
Moreno, in a meeting with the e-trike drivers at the city hall, agreed to lift the ban but told the drivers to form a single organization, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with a set of elected officers who will directly communicate with the city government.
The drivers were also told to put themselves under the jurisdiction of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau on their designated routes and to refrain from driving along national roads.
Moreno said a city ordinance needs to be passed to allow three-wheeled vehicles to be used as public transport on city streets. He said only 280 e-trikes will be given franchises.
Each e-trike is a loan granted to drivers, who were charged by the city government a “boundary” of 150 per day. Moreno reduced the boundary to P100.
The 280 e-trikes were donated by the Department of Energy to the city government in May.