Judge issues TRO vs 10K cap on motorcycle taxi drivers

MANILA, Philippines — A Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court on Monday granted Angkas’ petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) cap on motorcycle taxi drivers operating in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.

This meant that for the next 72 hours, the motorcycle ride-hailing applications participating in the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) extended three-month pilot test would be allowed to operate with more than 10,000 riders in their fleet.

In a three-page order, acting Executive Judge Ofelia Calo cited the possibility that around 17,000 Angkas riders could become jobless and “suffer grave irreparable injury.”

“At this initial stage of the proceedings, suffice it to state that these conditions are extant at the moment, there is urgency in the issuance of a 72-hour TRO,” Calo said.

The TRO will take effect as soon as Angkas pays a P300,000 bond.

Last year, the interagency technical working group (TWG) convened by the DOTr and the LTFRB imposed a 10,000-driver cap per participant in the pilot test. Angkas protested the order, saying it had 27,000 riders.

Sought for comment, the TWG said it was “confident that it [stood] on solid legal ground” following the issuance of the TRO.

It added that it had yet to receive an official copy of the court order and that it would comment on the merits of the TRO once it had reviewed it.—Reports from Meg Adonis and Matthew Reysio-Cruz