MANILA, Philippines — Both transportation groups and a House committee have called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to retain the current cap on motorcycle taxis.
In a statement, House committee on Metro Manila development vice chair Rep. Joel Chua and various transport groups urged Marcos, the DOTr, and the motorcycle taxi technical working group “to prioritize sustainable expansion outside Metro Manila, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that considers the city’s traffic flow integrity.”
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“Amid mounting concerns over hasty fleet increases, the coalition advocates for a thoughtful strategy that includes thorough impact assessments and stakeholder engagements before any expansions are entertained,” it said.
Transport leaders, for their part, warned of the “detrimental impact” of increasing the number of motorcycle taxis to the National Capital Region’s transportation infrastructure.
“Every additional motorcycle taxi exacerbates our traffic woes and sidelines traditional transport sectors crucial for our city’s mobility,” said National Public Transport Coalition and National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines president (NACTODAP/NPTC) Ariel Lim.
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Laban Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) president Jun de Leons shared similar sentiments, emphasizing how it would affect livelihood and public safety.
“We must ensure that each step we take on our roads is a step towards progress, not regression,” De Leon said.