‘Hindi pinag-isipan,’ Poe says of ban on motorcycle taxis

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Monday encouraged private citizens and stakeholders to file a case against the technical working group (TWG) of the Department of Transportation should it fail to continue the pilot study on motorcycle taxis.

“Hindi talaga pinagisipan,” Poe told reporters after emerging from a hearing on bills seeking to regulate motorcycle taxis on Monday.

Poewas referring to the TWG’s recommendation to terminate the pilot program on motorcycle taxis.

“Napasubo sila sa atin ngayon dahil gagawa-gawa sila ng desisyon na sususpendihin na nila o tatanggalin na nila yung pilot program tapos huhulihin nila yung mga riders next week, anong alternatibo nila? Alam nila mali yang desisyon na yan,” she said.

“The Senate will continue with its hearings to expedite the passage of that law allowing motorcycle taxis. On the other hand, I will encourage the private citizens and stakeholders to file a case against the department if they fail to continue with the study,” she further said.

Poe, who chairs the Senate public services committee, then underscored the importance of the study saying it would be “crucial” for Congress to craft a law regulating motorcycles-for-hire.

“The study is crucial for the data to be submitted to Congress so that we can base our bills, we can base our law on the proper results of a study,” she said.

She said private citizens and stakeholders may ask the courts to issue a TRO against the TWG’s recommendation to cancel the implementation of the study.

“Ang kaso (pwedeng) pa-TRO na ipagpatuloy yung pilot program for the interest of the public, who depends on alternative modes of transportation,” she said.

Before the hearing, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) board member Antonio Gardiola Jr. told reporters that they have already submitted their recommendation to Congress to terminate the pilot study.

In June last year, a six-month pilot run was approved to help Congress further evaluate pending bills seeking to legalize the use of motorcycles as public utility vehicles (PUVs).

The pilot run was originally set to end on December 26, 2019, but was extended until March 23, 2020.

“Nakita niyo naman, ni hindi nga sila makasagot kanina, di ba?… Ang dahilan ba naman nila samin ay sinasabi ng LTFRB wala daw silang datos ng safety e yung datos na yun nandun sa PNP (Philippine National Police), nandun sa MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority), may kopya nga kami e, bakit wala silang kopya ng data ng accident reports? Ang dami nilang dahilan,” she said.