House panel asks DOTr to allow motorcycles for hire

Aika Rey

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

House panel asks DOTr to allow motorcycles for hire
Lawmakers and advocacy groups say doing so would ease the burden of commuters and help improve traffic

MANILA, Philippines – A House of Representatives panel on Wednesday, June 6, asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to allow motorcycles to provide ride-hailing services.

The House committee on Metro Manila development met with representatives from the DOTr, local government units, motorcycle groups, and other government agencies on Wednesday.

Quezon City 2nd District Representative Winston Castelo, the chairman of the committee, urged the DOTr to amend the department order (DO) on transport network vehicle services (TNVS) to include motorcycles.

“We need to help ease the burden of Filipino commuters as soon as possible. This is why we need to allow motorcycles for hire to operate because they help in ferrying people,” Castelo said.

Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code mandates that motorcycles can only be registered as private vehicles or as government vehicles, not vehicles for hire.

But Castelo argued that the DO allowed private vehicles under the new TNVS category to provide ride-hailing services to commuters.

“The same can be done for motorcycles,” he said.

In response, Transportation Assistant Secretary Arnulfo Fabillar said the department would come up with guidelines before the end of June.

‘Beating traffic’

For advocacy groups, allowing motorcycles to be part of the ride-hailing market would help alleviate the dire traffic situation in the country.

“[M]akakatulong itong maibsan ang hirap na nararanasan ng ating mga mananakay at mabibigyan rin ng pagkakataong magkaroon ng disenteng hanapbuhay ang ating mga kababayan,” said George Royeca, co-convenor of Transport Watch.

(This would help ease the suffering of the riding public and would give our fellow Filipinos a decent livelihood.)

Royeca also noted that legalizing motorcycles for hire would help regulate the illegal operations of habal-habals.

A recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by Transport Watch showed that one in every 3 Filipino households owns a motorcycle. Half use it for livelihood.

Road safety

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and advocates had earlier raised concerns over the safety of motorcycles. (READ: Habal-habal: Understanding the true cost of a cheap ride)

According to government data, 24,000 crashes in Metro Manila involved motorcycles in 2017, killing 247 people and injuring 12,182. Of the dead, 178 were drivers of motorcycles, 37 were passengers, while 32 were pedestrians. (IN CHARTS: How deadly are Metro Manila roads?)

But Jobert Bolaños, spokesperson for motorcycle riders’ group Riders of the Philippines, said ride-hailing platforms such as Angkas provide training for drivers.

“Before you can even join the app-based motorcycle TNVS, you have to undergo a rigid screening process and then get strict training. This is meant to ensure that the riders are the safest possible motorcycle riders on the road,” he said.

Bolaños added that grievance mechanisms also prevent motorcycle riders from committing abusive behavior.

For Angkas head of operations David Medrana, it’s “about time” that the transportation department come up with policies addressing the needs of commuters.

“Angkas is willing to lend our understanding of the transport situation to the committee and the DOTr so we may come up with fair and non-discriminatory laws that will help provide transport services that Filipinos need to address the demand of the times,” Medrana said.

In November 2017, the LTFRB ordered Angkas to stop operations, saying that it’s up to Congress to legalize ride-hailing services offered by motorcycles. (READ: Why Angkas is illegal)

The LTFRB also suspended the motorcycle ride-hailing services of Grab in 2016. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Sleeve, Clothing, Apparel

author

Aika Rey

Aika Rey is a business reporter for Rappler. She covered the Senate of the Philippines before fully diving into numbers and companies. Got tips? Find her on Twitter at @reyaika or shoot her an email at aika.rey@rappler.com.