Poe catches motorcycle delivery app operator offering passenger rides without permit

File photo of Senator Grace Poe during a Senate hearing. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Tuesday criticized the operator of motorcycle delivery service application Maxim for allowing passengers to book rides even if the company does not have the permit for this type of service.

This developed during a Senate committee on public services hearing on motorcycles for hire.

Maxim President Andres Morales Jr. claimed what he has is just an operation of delivery service application.

However, riders’ rights group Riders Sentro quickly refuted this, testifying that Maxim’s application currently has the option for users to book passenger rides.

“Hindi po totoo na wala silang passenger na services sa app, so meron pong difference ‘yung pino-promote nila sa public, doon sa actual na operation nila,” testified Riders Sentro spokesperson John Jay Chan.

(It is not true that they do not have passenger services in the app, so there is a difference between what they promote to the public and their actual operation.)

To resolve the conflicting claims, Senator and committee chairperson Grace Poe told her staff, as well as Chan, to try booking a ride with Maxim on the spot.

Both managed to successfully secure trips for passengers.

Senator JV Ejercito said he also received reports that Maxim is being recommended as motorcycle riding application in Cebu due to its low price.

This is compared to other ride-hailing applications like Joyride and Angkas.

Morales passed on the blame to the drivers, claiming that he, as the operator, has no control over them.

This is supposedly because the drivers are independent contractors.

Poe, however, was not convinced.

She asked why the option to book passenger rides is available in the application in the first place.

Morales answered it is because the application is supposedly being prepared for passengers’ use in the future.

He claimed there is an existing application for Maxim to become a ride-hailing service.

“So that means you haven’t disabled it yet? You left it there and that’s malicious already,” observed Poe.

Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay suggested the removal of Maxim application temporarily while its operator has not yet secured its ride-hailing permit from Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

However, Chan advised against this.

He, instead, asked for a review of the application.

Chan was concerned that jobs of many delivery drivers would be badly affected if the application is taken down.

But Senator Raffy Tulfo insisted the safety of passengers must come first.

“Kasi ‘pag nagkaaksidenta sila, hindi mababayaran ang insurance kasi ang insured lang ‘yung cargo. The passengers are not protected, so therefore i-down na itong apps [ng Maxim],“ said Tulfo.

(Because if they have an accident, the insurance will not be paid because only the cargo is insured. The passengers are not protected, so therefore these apps [of Maxim] should be put down.)

As for the penalties that may be imposed on the operator of Maxim, lawmakers are leaving it up to the Department of Trade and Industry to make the decision.

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