By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz & Butch Fernandez
WHEN sessions resume on January 20, lawmakers from both chambers are expected to fast-track deliberations on pending bills to amend the decades-old transportation code in order to allow the operation of motorcycle taxis, which will become illegal when the second trial period ends in March, unless a law is passed.
Samar Rep. Edgar Sarmiento, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, said on Sunday his committee will try to fast-track deliberations of at least 15 pending House bills related to the operation of motorcycle taxis. The operations of these taxis, done through ride-hailing apps, were provisionally allowed for six months amid mounting clamor for alternative means of commuting amid the traffic and an inadequate mass transport system.
Senate leaders, meanwhile, are moving to front-load a review to assess recent actions taken by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) with regard to the new regime for ride-hailing apps after the six-month trial period, given the huge public interest seen to be hurt by the sudden cap regulators imposed of 10,000 motorbike riders for each operator.
Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, in a text message to the Businessmirror, replied, “Yes” when asked over the weekend if the Senate should move to fast-track legislation amending the National Transportation and Traffic Code in order to allow motorcycles as for-hire vehicles, given the LTFRB statement last Thursday that after the second three-month trial for ride-hailing apps like Angkas, motorbike taxis will cease to exist, being illegal.
Sen.Richard Gordon said Sunday he was still mulling options to hold hearings to assess the need for remedial legislation to protect commuters taking motorbike taxis. “I am still thinking about it,” Gordon told the Businessmirror.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, however, said he is leaving it up to the Committee on Public Services to weigh in options for crafting remedial legislation, adding that the panel chief, Sen. Grace Poe, had been actively leading deliberations on the issues before the six-month trial started.
Poe’s Public Services Committee was one of many parties that tackled the issues before the six-month trial was set and yet a technical working group of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), described by critics having acted secretly, solely decided on the post-trial regime of capping the number of riders, regardless of public need and demand.
Sarmiento: Public interest foremost
Sarmiento on Sunday also expressed opposition to the LTFRB decision to limit the number of motorcycle taxis operating in Metro Manila, and other highly urbanized areas in the second trial period, which began on December 23, or three days before the six-month experiment ended last December 26.
In an interview, Sarmiento said this decision will “economically dislocate” thousands of riders.
Sarmiento said the government should just maintain the status quo while allowing other players to come in.
He also said the LTFRB should have allowed new players right from the start of the six-month trial for bike-for-hire to avoid a monopoly in the motorcycle ride-hailing services.
Earlier, the Department of Transportation and LTFRB announced the extension of the pilot implementation of motorcycle ride-hailing services in the country after December 26. It also announced the inclusion of two new players—JoyRide and Move It, but its move to put a 30,000 riders’ cap on the three providers in total drew criticism, since it meant Angkas, the sole participant in the first trial, must reduce its rider force by 17,000.According to Sarmiento, the LTFRB should consider public welfare first before making any decision.
The lawmaker added that cutting the number of motorcycle taxis under Angkas will economically dislocate thousands of Angkas riders and would certainly deny commuters a well-tested alternative transport especially at a time when Metro Manila’s traffic is getting worse everyday.
“My concern is very simple. If we stop it, the people will be affected. The people will suffer. [Imagine] they have been on the bus for four hours in the morning [going to work], and another four hours from work to home due to our congested roads,” he said in a radio interview.
“While the government is fixing the efficiency of the mass transportation [system], we must first support this industry, a sector where they are helping people reach their destination,” he added.
Sarmiento said before allowing the other players to operate, they should go through the same process of accreditation just like what Angkas did before it was allowed to conditionally operate to ensure that their riders are properly trained.
Fast-track
“There are 15 house bills that are pending right now. Under Republic Act 4136 only four-wheeled vehicles are allowed. This two-wheeled vehicle was not allowed [that’s why an] executive order [was issued] six months ago to allow some testing on the motorcycle taxi,” Sarmiento explained.
The 15 bills aim to amend Section 3 and 7 of RA 4136 to include motorcycle-for-hire in the definition of terms and in the classification of vehicles that would be required for registration with the LTFRB.
He, however, said that there must be an eventual phaseout of these two-wheeled public transportation if and when the government has already put in place a safe, predictable and efficient mass transport system.