MANILA, Philippines – Representative Cristal Bagatsing of Manila’s 5th District said Tuesday that the pilot program for motorcycle taxis should be ended and they should be allowed to operate legally.
Bagatsing, who is an author of one of the bills allowing the use of motorcycles as a Public Utility Vehicle (PUV), said that the pilot program has been running for over two years but the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) have yet to be finalized.
“Let’s regulate and let’s be firm with the IRR (implementing rules and regulations). This TWG has been going on too long. The pilot programs have been running on the roads for [over two years] na. We see the need. It caters to the needs of the people.” she said during a House hearing on transportation
The pilot test was initiated to examine the effectiveness of a draft IRR that could ultimately lead to a broader regulation of motorcycle taxis.
READ: Solons push for pilot test for motorcycles-for-hire
She then added that people are already fed up with government agencies like DOH and FDA and she hopes that it stops there as they have reached a “quota.”
“Quota na tayo sa disappointment and frustrations in the likes of DOH and FDA, sasali pa ba kayo LTO? Mr. Chair, I’ve sat here from the beginning of the first pilot, in the 17th congress pa, hanggang ngayon nandito pa rin tayo?” she said.
(We have a quota of disappointment and frustrations in the likes of DOH and FDA, will you still join LTO? Mr. Chair, I’ve sat here from the beginning of the first pilot, in the 17th congress, until now we are still here?)
Motorcycle taxis, according to Bagatsing, have become an integral part of public transportation in the Philippines.
“Bakit ba natin sila patuloy na pinahihirapan? Madami na ngang nawalan ng trabaho, huwag na nating dagdagan, pahirapan pa yung motorcycle taxis and it’s a convenient mode of transportation and livelihood.” she said.
(Why are we making it so hard for them? Many have lost their jobs, let’s not be a burden to motorcycle taxis because it is a convenient mode of transportation and livelihood)
Bagatsing said that the Technical Working Group (TWG) tapped to study the matter has enough data from the operators and their “collective experience on the ground” to come up with a bill and pass the legislation.
In June 2019, a pilot study was conducted by the government allowing ride-hailing firms to use motorcycles as a mode of public transport, among those allowed in the pilot study were Angkas, JoyRide, and MoveIt. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of community quarantines, the pilot study was halted.
In October 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the resumption of the pilot study for motorcycle taxis.
And in November, ride-hailing firms Angkas and Joyride were allowed to resume operations under a provisional authority issued by the Department of Transportation that was valid from Nov. 24 to Dec. 9.