Fake news on scooter regulation

LAST week, news reports circulated about the filing of a bill in Congress that would require users of electric scooters, commonly called “e-scooters,” to obtain a Land Transportation Office (LTO) permit before being permitted to purchase one. The author of House Bill (HB) 1987, or the “Philippine Responsible Driving and Accountability Act,” Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao, is quoted as saying, “Electric scooters are motorized and can speed up faster than bicycles. Permits should be a requirement prior to purchase of electric scooters.”

This news resulted in a predictably annoyed reaction from the public, particularly after the Department of Transportation (DoTr) disclosed that it is “already in the late stages” of drafting a memorandum circular that will provide regulations for electric scooter users in the country.