No additional MC taxis in Metro Manila assures DOTr chief

Sec. Jaime Bautista DOTR FB PAGE

MANILA, Philippines — There would be no additional motorcycle (MC) taxis in Metro Manila, transportation secretary Jaime Bautista has said, following concerns that MC taxi expansion may cause more traffic in the metro. 

These concerns were raised by various transport groups and were further highlighted by the House committee on Metro Manila development which recently urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to maintain the current cap on MC taxis.

“The LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] would already stop adding the MC taxi units in Metro Manila,” Bautista was quoted as saying in a statement.

READ: Moratorium on expansion of MC taxi ops in NCR sought amid traffic woes

READ: Marcos, DOTr urged to retain cap on motorcycle taxis in NCR

Expansion has stopped

On April 1, the LTFRB announced that the expansion of MC taxis in the metro has stopped as the pilot study on the new mode of transportation was scheduled to end in May, but not after it announced that four players have been included in the study, with 2,000 units allocated to each.

The transportation chief stressed that the slots for MC taxi units earlier approved by the LTFRB were intended for use outside of Metro Manila.

“The 8,000 slots for new players recently announced were intended only in the provinces,” Bautista said. 

At present, there are around 51,000 MC taxi slots in the National Capital Region. 

“By redirecting additional MC taxi units outside of Metro Manila, the DOTr aims to alleviate congestion and enhance mobility in the capital region,” DOTr’s statement continued.