Stakeholders to discuss regulation of motorcycle taxis
MANILA, Philippines – The Senate public services committee, chaired by Sen. Grace Poe, will tackle the regulation of motorcycle taxis when it resumes its session on Monday.
Among the issues to be discussed in the hearing are the results of the six-month pilot run, the 10,000-driver cap set by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the ownership of motorcycle taxi firms, and safety regulations.
According to Poe, proper regulation will ensure that providers will pass the strictest standard of safety.
“Let’s remember that we only have one desire: That our countrymen will have an alternative means of transportation that is comfortable and safe,” she said in Filipino in a statement issued on Sunday.
Resource persons who will attend the hearing include Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor and Engineer Bert Suansing of the Department of Transportation (DOTr); Land Transportation Office chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante; DOTr- Technical Working Group chairperson Antonio Gardiola; George Royeca of Angkas; Eric Torres of Move It Philippines; Neil Sherwin Yu of JoyRide; and Brian Cu of Grab.
Also expected to join the discussion are leaders of commuters groups and motorcycle suppliers.
Article continues after this advertisement“We are pleased with the commitment of government officials and all concerned stakeholders to sit down and discuss key matters,” said Poe. “This will be a big leap towards regulating motorcycle taxis.”
Article continues after this advertisementPoe is the author of Senate Bill No. 128, or the proposed Motorcycles-for-Hire Act of 2019, one of the four bills that will be discussed by the committee, along with SB 1025 of Sen. Sonny Angara, SB 409 of Sen. Imee Marcos and SB 50 of Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.
In May 2019, the DOTr allowed a six-month test run for motorcycle taxi-service provider Angkas. When it ended in December, the pilot run was extended for another three months, with two more operators joining and a 10,000-driver cap imposed per provider.
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