DOTr body extends motorcycle taxis' pilot run, allows 2 new players

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) inter-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) on motorcycle taxis on Friday extended the six-month pilot run of motorcycle ride-hailing operations, with the inclusion of two new players.

The present pilot run involving DBDOYC Inc.’s Angkas will end on December 26.

"Pursuant to the mandate of the TWG, after careful evaluation, inspection, and validation of the overall operational readiness of the applicants, an additional two providers – JoyRide and Move It - were chosen to partake in the extension of the motorcycle taxi pilot implementation," the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said in a statement.

The TWG, an initiative of the DOTr, was created to gather data and determine the viability of motorcycles as a safe mode of public transportation, which may be taken into consideration during deliberations on pending bills in both houses of Congress.

It is chaired by LTFRB board member Antonio Gardiola Jr., with members including representatives from the DOTr, Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (i-ACT).

"Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It will participate in the Extended Pilot Implementation starting 23 December 2019 up to 23 March 2020 with an overall allotted cap of thirty-nine thousand (39,000) registered bikers -- ten thousand (10,000) bikers per Transport Network Company (TNC) for Metro Manila and three thousand (3,000) bikers per TNC for Metro Cebu operations," according to the LTFRB.

Prior to the termination of the pilot run on December 26, six companies eyed to also provide motorcycle taxi services submitted and presented their proposals to the TWG and upon initial qualification, four companies were considered, evaluated, and inspected in terms of company profile, operational plans, facilities and equipment as basis of their compliance.

In May, the DOTr allowed Angkas to operate as ride-hailing motorcycle taxi for six months starting in June.

The pilot run was approved in aid of legislation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to evaluate pending bills on the legalization of motorcycles as public utility vehicles (PUVs).

As a result existing laws such as Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code may be amended, according to the DOTr.

Present in the TWG meeting were Gardiola Jr., co-chairman Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante of LTO, vice-chairman and LTFRB board member Ronaldo Corpus, co-vice chairman Clarence Guinto of LTO, Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor of DOTr-Legal, Danilo Encela of LTO, and Joel Bolano of the LTFRB Technical Division.

LTFRB Chairman Martin B. Delgra III and Ariel Inton of Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection also attended the meeting. —LDF, GMA News