The technical working group (TWG) on motorcycle taxis at the Department of Transportation has proposed for the House transportation committee to extend on ongoing pilot study into more regions than had been permitted earlier.
At the committee hearing, House transportation committee chair and Antipolo 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop said the DOTr-TWG seeks to widen the pilot study further to Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Iloilo, Bacolod, Pampanga, Davao, Zamboanga, Legazpi, General Santos, Pangasinan, and Baguio.
The motorcycle taxi pilot study at present is confined in only cities: Metro Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro.
“We consider the final recommendations of your ongoing pilot study as an important source of information and critical component in our legislative process,” Acop said.
He noted the legislature gave the group six months to complete the study otherwise the TWG at the House will not finish its work.
Lawyer and Land Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza said the allotment of 45,000 motorcycle taxis for Metro Manila has already reached its limit.
The motorcycle taxi program has a 63,000 allocation nationwide of which 54,000 have been snapped.
Such entities as Cloud Panda Philippines Inc., Taxi Philippines Inc., E Pick Me Up Inc., Easy Way Transport Service and Multipurpose Cooperative, Para Express Technology Services Inc., Grab Philippines, and Market Innovators Inc. have expressed interest to join the motorcycle pilot study.
Earlier, the National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (NACTODAP) urged government to agree to widen motorcycle taxi operations beyond Metro Manila.
Lim has noted with concern the overwhelming concentration of the service in the capital city and fears for its adverse impact on tricycle-related livelihood,
“Hindi kami tutol sa motorcycle taxi. Tumutulong kami pero huwag naman sana dito sa Metro Manila. Sobrang dami na kasi dito. Mamatay ang mga tricycle”, Lim said.
