“It’s crackdown time on 1 December.”

There seems to be no pushing back the start of the nationwide ban on e-bikes and e-trikes traversing major roads and national highways. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said so on Friday.

The LTO vowed to proceed with the impounding of unregistered e-bikes and e-trikes that will be caught violating the ban.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Marcus Lacanilao underscored in a press conference that the prohibition stems from the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.

Specifically, he cited the provision stating that the battery-powered vehicles are for exclusive private use unless registered.

Without registration, he said, there is no legal mechanism to hold operators accountable in cases of traffic violations, accidents or crimes.

“Considering that at present, e-bikes and e-trikes are not registered with the LTO, there is no way that the government will be able to enforce accountability,” he said.

He added that unregulated operation “compromises road safety and creates enforcement gaps.”

Lacanilao acknowledged that the ban will draw public backlash.

“Many would be angry. But our priority is safety,” he said, adding that the agency will conduct information drives on secondary roads and coordinate with local governments to ensure compliance.

The LTO chief noted that the agency is ready to register eligible units but warned that “not all” e-bikes and e-trikes will qualify. “Not all can, not all are capable [of meeting] safety concerns,” he said.

With less than a week until implementation, the agency appears unmoved by calls for postponement, signaling that operators who ignore the directive will face immediate apprehension and vehicle impoundment.

Anyone going to court for a temporary restraining order against the ban?