E-bikes, pedicabs, tricycles apprehended on nat'l roads in San Mateo starting February 5, 2024

The local government of San Mateo, Rizal will start apprehending electric bicycles (e-bikes), tricycles, and pedicabs that will use the national highways starting Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. 

“‘Yung rush hour 'yung inaano natin. Du'n tayo magpo-focus talaga,” said San Mateo Municipal Administrator Henry Desiderio in Joseph Morong’s “24 Oras” report on Friday.

(We’ll focus on the apprehension during rush hour.)

“Mas maraming umaanggal. ‘Yung mga pauwi kasi mabagal ang traffic,” he added. 

(A lot of people were complaining because the vehicles were causing slow traffic.)

Drivers of apprehended e-bikes will be fined P2,500. Tricycle drivers will also be asked to pay a fine of P2,500 for the first two violations. The third apprehension will result in the revocation of their franchises. 

While some drivers welcomed the ban on such vehicles on national highways, others lament the policy. 

“‘Yun nga ang ikinasasama ng loob namin. Sa prangkisa namin mayroong General Luna so kasama 'yung highway.  Hindi namin maihahatid,” a tricycle driver said.

(That is the reason why we feel aggrieved. Based on our franchise, we are allowed in General Luna, and that includes the highway. We can no longer bring passengers there.)

“Kawawa ‘yung mga estudyanteng bata,” he added.

(The school children will be affected.)

Desiderio said the municipal government would verify the tricycle drivers’ claims. 

As for the affected senior citizens, he said: “We can be lenient [especially] if it involves, PWDs, senior citizens and emergency case, semi-emergency case”. 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government reminded local governments to implement the ban as stipulated in a memorandum issued in December 2023. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News