Because of the limited transportation options during the longest, and strictest COVID-19 lockdown in the world, people living in Metro Manila had to resort to unconventional transport options to get around. One of these options is the electric scooter, a relatively low-cost, eco-friendly way to traverse the urban jungle.
But you’ll soon need to have a driver’s license to be able to use these, and you’ll be limited to certain areas only, at least according to the DOTr.
“Mayroon nang draft ng administrative order na magko-consolidate ng guidelines. Ito’y hinihintay lang na maaprubahan ni Secretary [Arthur] Tugade ng DOTr,” Land Transportation Office chief Edgar Galvante said during an interview.
“Dahil dumarami kami, dumarami rin iyong nakikita nating kamote riders. It’s the same with cars din naman saka mga motorsiklo… iyong mga motoristang binabangga iyong nanahimik na barrier,” he said in a separate TeleRadyo interview.
While we can see where the LTO is coming from, the new requirement is imposing yet another layer of bureaucracy on the general populace that are already reeling from the loss of transportation options during the COVID-19 crisis.
On the other hand, there needs to be a way to educate electric scooter owners on areas where they can and cannot go, as we’ve also personally seen them in highways alongside much faster vehicles, potentially putting them in harm’s way.
What do you think? Should electric scooter owners get an LTO permit or driver’s license?
