LAND Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III urged the passage of a law that would regulate the motorcycle ride-hailing sector, noting that this would fill the gaps in the imperfect transportation system.
“Tapos na po sa House of Representatives. Ngayon po ang bola ay nasa Senado na… and we’re hoping to beat the deadline which is bago mag-bow out ang 19th Congress. Sana maipasa na po nila,” Guadiz told reporters in an interview.
The LTFRB chief said the authority for motorcycles-for-hire companies to operate was the pilot study that was required for the crafting of the law during the 19th Congress.
“Remember, a motorcycle is per se iligal as a mode of transport. Naging legal lang ‘yan because of a pilot study being made… ‘Pag nag-bow out si 19th Congress, mawawala ang MC (motorcycle) taxi. Mawawalan ng hanabuhay ang ating mga riders,” he said.
In supporting the need to legalize motorcycles-for-hire, Guadiz said this mode of transportation will fill the gaps of the “imperfect” land transportation system.
“For purposes ng flexibility sa transportation system natin. Hindi perpekto ‘yung transport system natin ngayon. Kung minsan ho kinakapos ng jeep, kung minsan ho kinakapos ng mga bus. In between, who fills in the gap ‘pag nawala si jeep or kinulang si jeep at kinulang si bus? Ito pong mga motorcycle taxi,” he said.
Apart from this, the LTFRB chief said this would help the livelihood of roughly 60,000 riders whom he said earns an average of P1,000 to P2,000 per day.
Further, Guadiz said failure to enact the law for MC taxis will worsen the current problem of habal-habal, or illegal motorcycle rides.
“Mas lalala po. Sa ngayon po, malaki na po ang problema natin. Ang dami ng habal-habal. Ibig sabihin, walang protection si pasahero ‘pag na-disgrasya po,” he said.
During the Senate public services committee hearing yesterday, Sen. Grace Poe, former chairperson of the panel, said that it is the ripe time to legalize motorcycles as a form of transportation in the Philippines.
“There is overwhelming data, backed by consumer demand, supporting the permanent integration of motorcycles into our public transportation landscape… The motorcycle-for-hire bill has been through the long and winding road to passage. Our tank is full. It is now time to start our engines and put our years of work into motion,” Poe said. (GMA Integrated News)
