ILOILO City – Citing public safety, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is urging motorcycle riders offering passenger services in this city to apply for a franchise through their office or the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6.
According to LTO regional director Atty. Gaudioso Geduspan, this initiative aligns with efforts to regulate motorcycle taxis picking up passengers in the city.
“We need regulation to ensure this doesn’t grow at the expense of public safety,” Geduspan said.
Geduspan cited the case of motorcycle ride-hailing services like “Angkas” in Metro Manila, which operate legally and are regulated under LTFRB-issued franchises.
Records from LTFRB-6 and LTO-6 reveal that no one has ever applied to operate motorcycle taxi services in Iloilo City. This indicates that all motorcycle taxis currently operating in the city are illegal.
To address this concern, the LTO has been monitoring motorcycles offering passenger services. In June, a special anti-colorum team was established to focus on unregulated motorcycle taxi operations.
The team actively monitors these activities by accessing Facebook group chats and applications used by riders to coordinate with passengers.
Geduspan said this trend started during the COVID-19 pandemic, initially as a delivery service for goods and food. Over time, some riders shifted to picking up passengers, particularly at night. Call center agents are the primary users of these services.
Geduspan emphasized the need to regulate these operations to prevent overcharging and ensure passenger safety.
“Unregulated operations could lead to bigger problems if left unchecked,” he warned.
To support the transition to legal operations, Geduspan and LTFRB-6 legal counsel Atty. Salvador Altura have discussed ways to assist well-meaning motorcycle drivers in applying for franchises.
“The LTO is not just about law enforcement. We also assist drivers to legitimize their operations,” Geduspan explained.
Motorcycle riders interested in legalizing their services are encouraged to visit the LTO or LTFRB offices for assistance.
Geduspan underscored the importance of regulation to identify drivers, verify motorcycle registration, ensure valid licenses, and set standardized fares for specific destinations.
Altura assured that the LTO would sustain its efforts to monitor and regulate motorcycle passenger services, akin to its oversight of unregulated vans.
The regulation aims to balance public safety and the sustainability of transportation services in Iloilo City./PN
