7 firms seek to join motorcycle taxi study

MANILA, Philippines — Seven more motorcycle-for-hire companies have applied to take part in the government’s motorcycle (MC) taxi study, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said yesterday.

In a hearing of the House of Representatives transportation committee, LTO chair Vigor Mendoza identified the firms as Cloud Panda, Taxi Philippines, e-pick me up, Easy Way Transport Service, Para Express Technology, Grab Philippines and Ding Dong Rider Ko.

The technical working group (TWG) has conducted ocular inspections of the firms’ premises, except for Grab Philippines, and is about to approve their applications “subject to the consideration of the committee,” he added.

Mendoza said the approval of Grab Philippines’ application was withheld “since there is a legal issue on the table,’’ citing Grab’s buyout of the motorcycle taxi firm Move It.

The study – meant to determine the viability, reliability and safety of motorcycles as a means of public conveyance – started in 2019 with only Grab, Move It and Joy Ride as participants.

Mendoza said the inclusion of the new players is intended for “further in-depth study, specifically on the market capacity.”

He noted the TWG wants to know the implication of having the new players in the public transportation sector of the country.

The official added they are eyeing to expand the operations of MC taxis to Pampanga, Cavite and Baguio City.

Mendoza also informed the panel, chaired by Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, that the TWG had tapped the University of the Philippines’ National Center for Transport Studies to help in the MC taxi study.

The center is tasked to do ‘’a more in-depth analysis and study on the market capacity as far as MC taxis are concerned.’’