(File) TRAFFIC BUSTER An Angkas rider ferries a commuter. (contributed photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has filed a resolution supporting the resumption of the government’s pilot study on motorcycle taxis to address the current “transportation crisis” in the metropolis.
The resumption of the pilot study was earlier requested by mayors of Metro Manila mayors and was endorsed to Congress by the Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
This prompted Recto to file Senate Resolution No. 543 last Monday.
In the resolution, the senator underscored the “urgent need” for alternative modes of transportation as public transport remains restricted amid the pandemic.
“As the government lifted the enhanced community quarantine to give way to a phased opening of the economy and allowed more businesses to resume operations, a transportation crisis particularly in Metro Manila ensued, as there was a lack of available public transportation for commuters since public transportation operation remains restricted,” he said.
With about 60% of the workforce in Metro Manila unable to report for work because of the lack of available public transportation, Recto said: “It is undeniable that there is an urgent need for alternative modes of transportation to ferry the workers to and from their respective work areas.”
He also pointed out that motorcycle taxis that operate using a ride-haiing app, are considered “comparatively cheaper and more convenient modes of public transportation.”
In June last year, the government approved the pilot implementation of motorcycle taxis within Metro Manila and Metro Cebu until the imposition of the lockdown in many parts of the country because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The continued operation of motorcycle taxis is deemed illegal as the pilot study already expired last April, the resolution said.