Motorcycle taxi pilot run extension eyed

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s pilot study on motorcycle taxi services may be extended beyond its three-month period and even expanded to more participants, lawmakers said yesterday.

Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, chair of the House committee on transportation, revealed this after a closed-door meeting with members of the technical working group (TWG) during a hearing on the issue last Wednesday.

Sarmiento bared that the TWG will extend the initial period of the study, which is set to end on March 23, until after necessary law is passed by Congress.

“There will be no apprehensions until there is a law to cover these motorcycle taxi services. We don’t want to rush things on this one because we have to make sure that all stakeholders will be heard,” the lawmaker stressed in an interview.

He was referring to bills seeking to amend Republic Act 4136, the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, to allow motorcycles to be used as public utility vehicles.

Sarmiento said Congress will also create its own TWG to study the measure.

The lawmaker further bared that the TWG may also further increase the 45,000-rider cap for the three participants - Angkas, JoyRide and Move It – in Metro Manila.

Apart from increasing the cap for the trial run in Metro Manila, the TWG also further expanded its study to Cebu and Cagayan de Oro and allocated a cap of 18,000 riders for both provinces.