Transport groups have called on the government to lift the limit on the number of motorcycle taxis (MTs) plying the nation’s roads to provide commuters with a convenient transportation alternative given the sorry state of the mass transportation infrastructure in the country.
In separate statements, CitizenWatch Philippines, Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3), and The Passenger Forum said removing the limit on MTs serve the interest of millions of commuting Filipinos and providing livelihood for thousands of qualified drivers and their dependents.
Former Quezon City representative and now CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor and lawyer Kit Belmonte said that as consequence of the absence of adequate mass transportation serving the growing Filipino population, “millions of commuters are plagued by the daily distress of having to fall in line for hours, squeeze themselves in packed modes of transportation or resort to illegal transport options, just to get home to their families after a hard day’s work.”
The shortage of options, lamented the lawyer, has “resulted in the proliferation of illegal habal-habal or unregistered motorcycle taxis, patronized by desperate commuters.”
“Because they are unregulated, the drivers of habal-habal do not have proper training and they do not have accident insurance,” Belmonte said.
Removing the limits on motorcycle taxi numbers, said the former legislator, would encourage MT companies to hire the habal-habal, thus providing much-needed livelihood for the drivers and helping commuters.
“No less than Senator Raffy Tulfo recommended the legalization of habal-habal operations and even asked MC taxi operators to help train habal-habal riders,” Belmonte said.
While there are no official government statistics on the number of habal-habal in the country, estimates pegged their number at 200,000 in Metro Manila in 2020. The proliferation of this mode of transportation in other parts of the country has compelled local government units like Cebu City to create an office regulating their operations.
BK3 Convenor Louie Montemar said that lifting the limit is the correct policy, noting the absence of limits on motorcycle taxis in other countries.
The Passenger Forum convener Primo Morillo believes “it is about time to do away with the limit for motorcycle taxis as it impedes the potential of MC taxis to serve commuters and provide livelihood for riders.”
“No other than the Philippine Competition Commission recommended the removal of the cap as it will lead to better commuter experience,” said Morillo who pointed out the government is already in a position to increase the number of motorcycles-for-hire.
“The removal of limits for operating MTs will truly help commuters, riders, and even the government. We do not have to wait for the passage of the MT law to remove the cap as the TWG can do it now,” Morillo said.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board recently urged habal-habal operators, particularly in provinces, to participate in a pilot study for MTs for regulatory and training purposes.
LTO chief Teofilo Guadiz III said the pilot study ultimately aims for MTs to “operate safely and securely, which will ultimately benefit the riding public.”
