SINABI ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) na tinitingnan nito na higpitan ang alituntunin o patakaran sa paggamit ng  e-bikes at e-scooters kasunod ng napaulat na mga insidente ngayong taon.

Ayon kay Victor Nuñez, pinuno ng traffic discipline office for enforcement ng MMDA, medyo maluwag kasi ang ahensiya sa pagpapatupad ng  Land Transportation Office’s Administrative Order 2021-039 noong nakaraang taon sa gitna ng binawasang kapasidad sa  public transit.

“But now since the mass public transport is back to 100 percent capacity and face-to-face class is about to resume in a couple of weeks, we know that many students might use these e-bikes and e-scooters. We just want to promote road safety,” ayon kay Nuñez.

Sa ilalim ng  AO 2021-039, ang e-vehicles na may maximum speed na 50 kilometers per hour ay  required  na magparehistro sa  ilalim ng LTO.

“Users must also bring their driver’s license should they operate this type of vehicle,” dagdag na pahayag ni Nuñez sabay sabing “The road operation of e-vehicles and e-scooters and e-bikes… must be limited to bicycle lanes, barangay roads, and they must always give the right of way to the incoming traffic. They’re not allowed to pass through in the middle of major thoroughfares.”

“E-bikes and e-scooters are allowed to pass national roads for purposes of crossing only,” aniya pa rin.

Noong nakaraang taon, nakapagtala ang MMDA ng 346 road crashes na  kinasangkutan ng e-vehicles sa kahabaan ng mga pangunahing lansangan sa  capital region.

Ngayong taon, mayroong 82 road crashes ang sangkot ang e-vehicles na naitala mula Enero hanggang Mayo.

Sinabi pa ni Nuñez na tinanggihan ng  MMDA  ang panukalang i-ban ang paggamit ng  e-vehicles sa gitna ng  pagtaas ng presyo ng langis.

“The Department of Transportation has expanded the bike lane network in parts of the country,” ayon kay Nuñez.

“We don’t want to really ban this type of vehicle. We only ask for proper discipline and being cautious really on the use of e-vehicles and to know their road limitations,” aniya pa rin. (Daris Jose)

IPINATUPAD ng Malakanyang ang naging kautusan ng Office of the Ombudsman na ilagay sa anim na buwang preventive suspension ang mga opisyal ng Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).

Isang  memorandum na may petsang Hunyo 7 at nilagdaan ni Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea ang nagbibigay atas kay ARTA Deputy Director-General for Administration and Finance , Undersecretary Carlos Quita na magdala ng kopya  ng preventive suspension order mula sa Office of the Ombudsman para kina ARTA Director-General Jeremiah Belgica, Deputy Director-Deneral Eduardo Bringas, Division chief Sheryl Pura-Sumagui, and Directors Jedrek Ng at Melamy Salvadora-Asperin.

Ang memorandum, na isinapubliko ay nagbigay atas din kay  Quita na magsumite ng  compliance report at certifications sa  Office of the Ombudsman at Office of the President.

Ipinag-utos kasi ng Office of the Ombudsman ang anim na buwang preventive suspension laban sa mga opisyal ng Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) na sina Belgica, deputy director general Eduardo Bringas, division chief Sheryl Pura-Sumagui, at directors Jedrek Ng at Melamy Salvadora-Asperin.

“This is to secure and guard the integrity of all documents so that we cannot influence the investigation,” ayon kay Belgica.

Ayon naman sa Ombudsman mayroong malakas na ebidensya laban sa mga respondent na inireklamo ng grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty at conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service na maaaring magresulta sa kanilang pagkatanggal sa serbisyo.

“Thus, in order to secure the documents and to prevent possible harassment of witnesses and considering that their continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against them, they are hereby placed under preventive suspension for a period of six months,” sabi ng utos ng Ombudsman.

Ang suspensyon ay kaugnay ng reklamong isinampa ng DITO Telecommunity Inc. sa mga opisyal ng ARTA kaugnay ng kanilang mga naging aksyon pabor sa NOW Telecom Company Inc. (Daris Jose)