House approves bill regulating motorcycles-for-hire

FILE PHOTO: An Angkas rider and his passenger. INQUIRER/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives passed on third and final reading the bill allowing and regulating the use of motorcycles-for-hire as a public transport vehicle.

With 189 affirmative votes, zero negative, and no abstention, the lower chamber approved House Bill No. 10571 or the “Motorcycles-for-Hire Act” during Monday’s session.

The measure aims to provide a safe, sufficient, and economical alternative mode of public transport by allowing and regulating the use of motorcycles for hire.

It allows the operation of motorcycles as common carriers for the transportation of passengers and goods, including parcels and mail.

Under the measure, motorcycles-for-hire are allowed to use digital booking platforms or designated terminals.

“To maximize their operation, motorcycles-for-hire shall not be bound by a single Transport Network Company (TNC) and Online E-Commerce Platform Providers (OEPP) but shall be allowed to adopt a multi-homing approach within a particular area of operation under the given franchise,” the measure states.

The operator and the TNC or OEPP are jointly and solidarity liable for death, injuries, or damage to property that occurred in the course of operating a motorcycle-for-hire, the bill states.

Moreover, the Department of Transportation, upon the recommendation of the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Philippine Standards and the Land Transportation Office, is tasked to provide the standards and specifications for motorcycles that may be allowed to operate as motorcycles-for-hire.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, in coordination with local government units, is given the authority to issue franchises of motorcycles for-hire in metropolitan and urban areas.

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KGA