CITING the worsening traffic gridlocks in Metropolitan Manila’s main thoroughfares, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara is pushing for the legalization of motorcycle taxis-for-hire, as typified by the very popular bike-hailing firm Angkas, which now operates just on a provisional authority from regulators.
“Traffic in Metro Manila is getting worse by the day, the mass transit systems are constantly breaking down and many commuters are left with no choice but to use motorcycles-for-hire or ‘habal-habal’ to get from point A to point B,” Angara pointed out recently.
In a statement, Angara acknowledged that “technically, this increasingly popular mode of transport is still considered illegal under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which covers the registration and operation of all motor vehicles in the country.”
He recalled that Angkas was earlier allowed to operate for six months starting last June 8 as part of a pilot-run of ‘motorcycle taxis.’
Asserting that commuting in Metro Manila has become “very challenging,” the senator noted, for instance, that a typical commuter has to allocate at least two hours to get to work or school “and that is, if their regular modes of transport are available. What if the MRT breaks down? Kulang pa ang dalawang oras mo sa byahe [Your two hours for commuting then won’t be enough].”
Angara noted the recent fire that disrupted half of the LRT 2 segment, inconveniencing, he said in a mix of English and Filipino, “thousands of Filipinos, most of whom were forced to turn to habal or motorbike taxis because these are cheaper compared to Grab.”
In moving to legalize Angkas operations to serve commuters, the senator cited Republic Act 4136, also known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code that, he noted, only allows the registration of motorcycles for either private or government, and prohibits its listing as a vehicle for hire.
He noted, however, that individuals and even unaccredited transport groups, continue to utilize motorcycles for public transport “despite explicit prohibition of such operation under the same law.”
Angara affirmed that motorcycles-for-hire have long been around and for some provinces, this is even considered a primary mode of public transportation. “The demand for this service simply cannot be ignored, which is why I have filed a bill seeking to legalize the operation of motorcycles-for-hire,” the senator stressed.
In filing Senate Bill 1025, the senator sought to amend the Land Transportation and Traffic Code to allow motorcycles to be registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) as “for hire” and used as a commercial vehicle to transport passengers and goods. It provides that in order to be registered for transporting passengers, a motorcycle must have a minimum engine displacement of 125 cubic centimeters and a backbone-type built.
The Angara bill further tasks the LTO with ensuring the roadworthiness of motorcycles-for-hire before they are registered. “To further ensure their safety, no modifications on the motorcycles will be allowed, except for the installation, based on safe engineering design specifications of motorcycle luggage carriers, saddlebags, step boards or foot pegs, and appropriate speed limiter and monitoring device,” the bill added.
Image credits: CNN Philippines