MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has recommended the Metro Manila mayors’ request for the government to continue the pilot study on motorcycle taxis.
“Inendorso ng IATF sa House of representatives Committee on Transportation ang request ng mga local chief executives ng Metro manila para sa Department of Transportation na ituloy ang pilot study ng motorcycle taxis pending enactment of the appropriate legislation,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised press briefing Tuesday.
The government’s pilot study on motorcycle taxis expired in April, making them illegal unless Congress crafts a law that would allow them as a mode of public transportation.
The study will measure whether motorcycle taxis were fit for public transport as it is currently banned under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, or Republic Act No. 4136.
The government allowed Singaporean-owned Angkas to operate motorcycle taxis for six months from June 2019 on a pilot study basis. JoyRide and MoveIt were also allowed to operate shortly before the Luzon lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.