Strict enforcement of e-vehicle ban on major roads starts

Citation tickets will be issued starting Wednesday, April 17, to those caught using electric vehicles, particularly e-bikes and e-trikes, on major roads in Metro Manila. The ban took effect on Monday but Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Don Artes ordered traffic enforcers to give a verbal warning to violators of the new regulation. But starting today, violators will be fined P2,500 while unregistered vehicles will be impounded. Under MMDA Regulation No. 24-022 series of 2024, the use of e-vehicles, such as e-bikes and e-trikes, as well as tricycles, pedicabs, pushcarts and tractor-drawn carts known as “kuliglig” will be prohibited on national, circumferential and radial roads in Metro Manila. Light electric vehicles (such as e-bikes, e-scooters and similar vehicles weighing less than 50 kilograms) can still use these roads if they are inside established bike lanes, or need to cross the road. However, they should yield to all incoming traffic, the MMDA said. —DEXTER CABALZA

April 18 deadline looms for Loyola Plans claimants

Clients of Loyola Plans Consolidated Inc. have only until April 18 to file their claims against the distressed preneed firm with the Insurance Commission (IC), which had declared it under liquidation effective end-September. Applicants must submit supporting documents and/or relevant proof detailing the character, basis and amount of their claims. Those filed beyond the deadline would be barred from normal liquidation proceedings and referred to the preneed firm for reconsideration in its dissolution and winding up proceedings. To protect the interest and welfare of Loyola Plan’s clients, the IC issued a notice of liquidation requiring planholders and creditors to submit their claims against the company, which was considered financially incapable of paying off benefits and debts. Loyola Plans was also barred from resuming operations and from writing new business. Before this, regulators gave the company a chance to fix its finances when they placed it under conservatorship in 2019, and then under receivership in June 2023 after it was deemed insolvent. —IAN NICOLAS P. CIGARAL