DOTr’s TWG reconsiders plan to stop motorcycle taxis’ pilot run

RECONSIDERING MOTOR-TAXIS. Members of the Technical Working Group on motorcycle taxis attend a Senate hearing on Monday (Jan. 20, 2020). After the hearing, the TWG immediately met and reconsidered the plan to terminate the motorcycle taxi’s pilot run. (Photo courtesy of DOTr)

MANILA – An inter-agency technical working group (TWG) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will reconsider the plan to terminate the motorcycle taxis’ pilot run, an official said on Monday.

DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said the TWG on motorcycle taxis convened to discuss sentiments raised by the senators against the pilot run’s termination during Monday’s Senate hearing.

“The TWG shall further discuss all these on Wednesday. After which, a report shall be submitted to DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade,” Libiran said in a statement.

Libiran said although the TWG has earlier recommended terminating the pilot study due to legal impediments caused by one of the players in the motorcycle taxi space, Tugade said he would reconsider the extension if all players agree on the rider caps and location guidelines set by the DOTr.

“According to Sec Tugade, if it will be extended, it should not be in an atmosphere filled with cases. Dapat pumayag sila sa cap, dapat mag-agree sila kung saang locations lang pwede (They should comply with the cap, they should agree on which locations are allowed),” Libiran said.

Libiran said another TWG meeting is set on Friday for the stakeholders, resource persons, and the three motorcycle providers — Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It participating in the pilot run.

She, however, said the recommendation to blacklist Angkas from becoming a motorcycle taxi service provider has also been approved by Tugade.

According to the document submitted to the Senate Committee on Public Service, the recommendation to blacklist Angkas was made due to two rallies staged by its riders in December last year against the new rider cap.

The document also cited Angkas’ “numerous social media statements disparaging the TWG” and several legal petitions which aimed to stop the enforcement of the TWG’s revised guidelines on motorcycle taxis and the inclusion of its two competitors in the program.

In December, the TWG extended the pilot study on motorcycle taxis and released a revised guideline which included a 30,000-rider cap for Metro Manila and 9,000 for Metro Cebu and the inclusion of two other approved service providers.