MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) On the morning of the scheduled Senate public hearing on motorcycle taxis, the inter-agency technical working group (TWG) terminated the motorcycle taxi pilot run more than 2 months before its supposed end.

On Monday, January 20, TWG head Antonio Gardiola Jr told reporters that their recommendation to terminate the pilot run has been endorsed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

The pilot run was meant to serve as a basis for lawmakers to determine the viability of motorcycles as a mode of public transportation.

Gardiola said that the TWG is finding it difficult to gather data because of legal impediments, and thus will be terminating the pilot run entirely.

The termination came after two courts issued Temporary Restraining Orders against the guidelines of the pilot run regarding the biker cap that the TWG imposed.

“Magulo eh. We are resorting to legal rigmarole sa nangyayaring ito… Nai-impede ang study, we cannot gather data because of actions being undertaken by one of the players so it’s better to terminate it,” Gardiola said.

(It’s a mess. We are now resorting to legal rigmarole… The study is being impeded, we cannot gather data because of actions being undertaken by one of the players so it’s better to terminate it.)

Gardiola said that the termination will take effect in a week. 

“Binigyan kami ng trabaho para mag-aral kung safe, walang binigay sa’ming trabaho para pag-aralan kung okay na hanapbuhay,” Gardiola said.

(Our mandate is to study if motorcycle taxis are safe, not to see if it would be a good means of livelihood.)

The Senate panel then urged the TWG to reconsider the termination, pointing out that laws cannot be made without the proper research.

Committee chair Senator Grace Poe added that Congress cannot be pressured to craft a law to legalize motorcycle taxis without basis. – Rappler.com