Gov’t looking at motorcycle taxis for new jobs

A commuter books a vehicle via ride-hailing app Grab in Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

Malacañang on Thursday said President Marcos has secured an investment commitment from ride-hailing service Grab that could translate into 500,000 jobs. The Presidential Communications Office, in a statement, said the President met with Grab CEO and cofounder Anthony Tan, who proposed the legalization of motorized taxis, which the company has been testing for four years already. The law prohibits the use of motorcycles to transport passengers or freight but requests to review the policy and allow motorcycles as a form of public transportation prompted the transportation department to pilot test the operation of motorcycle taxis within Metro Manila and Metro Cebu in 2019. Mr. Marcos said the government has created approximately close to 2 million jobs since, resulting in the recent drop in the country’s unemployment rate, but he was interested in Grab’s proposal because it could have an immediate effect on employment generation. —JEROME ANING