Boracay exec laments no LTO guidelines for e-trikes

The local government of Malay, Aklan on Monday lamented the apparent failure of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to draft official guidelines on the registration of electronic tricycles(e-trikes)despite the thrusts of the national government on the conservation of environment.

Outgoing Malay Councilor Dante Pagsuguiron said the Aquino administration has expressed commitment to provide 100,000 units of e-trikes all over the country.

"We in Boracay has supported this program with the Department of Finance and the Department of Energy. In fact, last Saturday we have already distributed certificates of ownership to at least 100 tricycle operators in this resort island for the operation of e-trikes," said Pagsuguiron.

The local government is bent on abolishing the operation of tricycles in the year 2015 and will be replaced by environment friendly e-trikes.

"We expect the first batch which is 100 units of e-trikes will be delivered to those who received the certificates by August of this year. This is supported by the BPI Global and the Gerweiss Motors," Pagsuguiron told this writer in an interview Monday.

Already, there are ten units of e-trikes operating around Boracay, which is considered successful despite minor technical problems. It is expected that the next batch of e-trikes to be delivered are already improved units.

However, while the local government of Malay anticipates the massive operation of e-trikes in this resort island the LTO has encouraged the public to be cautious in confronting erring drivers pending absence of guidelines.

"As far as the local government of Malay is concerned, we have been asking the LTO to issue guidelines on e-trikes operation several times but they still failed to provide us with an official copy so the the local government will question them if they conduct inspection on the e-trikes issued by the local government," said Pagsuguiron.

The distribution of certificate of ownership to the drivers for e-trikes is in line with the local government's program on the national environment month.