House panel eyes motorcycle taxi pilot study outside NCR

A House panel has expressed willingness to broaden the scope of the motorcycle taxi pilot study outside Metro Manila.

House Transportation Committee Chair and Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop said the Department of Transportation Technical Working Group (DOTr-TWG) submitted a report stating an extension of motorcycle (MC) taxi pilot studies into several additional regions.

The recommended extension will include the provinces of Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Iloilo, Bacolod, Pampanga, Davao, Zamboanga, Legazpi, General Santos, Pangasinan, and Baguio.

Land Transportation Office chief Atty. Vigor Mendoza also said the allotment of 45,000 motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila has already reached its limit.

National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (NACTODAP) President Ariel Lim has emphasized the need to disperse motorcycle taxi operations beyond Metro Manila.

Lim highlighted concerns regarding the overwhelming concentration of such services in the capital city, expressing fears about potential adverse effects on tricycle-related livelihoods.

"Hindi kami tutol sa motorcycle taxi. Tumutulong kami pero huwag naman sana dito sa Metro Manila. Sobrang dami na kasi dito. Mamatay ang mga tricycle," Lim said.

(We are not against motorcycle taxis. But they should be concentrated in Metro Manila since there is already a huge number of these units here. The tricycle operations will lose profit.)

The LTO earlier said at least seven new players have expressed intent to enter the country's motorcycle taxi industry as government plans to expand the ongoing pilot study program.

Under the program, only three players are allowed to operate motorcycle taxi services: Angkas, MOVE IT, and JoyRide. — VDV, GMA Integrated News