LTFRB biker cap may be challenged to court

MANILA, Philippines—The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) order limiting the number of motorcycle taxi drivers may be challenged before the court, Senator Grace Poe said Monday.

Poe, chair of Senate committee on public services, explained that bringing the controversial order before the court is the more viable option as Congress is currently on a one-month legislative break.

“Ang pinaka-epektibo ay dumulog ang kung sinuman sa korte para kuwestiyunin ito at ang korte ang puwedeng magbigay ng temporary restraining order o TRO,” Poe said in an interview over dzMM when asked what legal remedies may be used to stop the implementation of the order.

(The most effective way to challenge it is for somebody to go to the court to question it and the court can issue a temporary restraining order or TRO.)

“Siguro mas mabuti ‘yun dahil ‘yun kaagad-agad, ang Senado, hindi pa kami puwede—gustuhin man namin—hindi kami puwedeng magkaroon ng pagdinig ngayon dahil adjourned ang session namin kaya nga kailangan unconventional means ang gamitin,” she added.

(I think that’s better because that could be done right away while in the Senate, we can’t — even if we want to — we can’t have a hearing today because our session is adjourned so we need unconventional means to challenge it.)

The LTFRB earlier announced that the government has allowed the extension of Angkas’ pilot run for another three months and gave two new operators the right to participate.

The regulatory body likewise imposed a 10,000-biker limit per transport network company (TNC) for Metro Manila and 3,000 bikers per TNC for Metro Cebu.

Angkas, the only operator during the first six months of the pilot run, said the government’s decision would result in the loss of livelihood of about 17,000 accredited riders.

Poe also said that she will look into the safety record of the two newly added operators, namely, JoyRide and Move It.