Fleet cap still under review, LTFRB assures MoveIt riders

MANILA, Philippines — Riders employed by motorcycle ride-hailing mobile application MoveIt were assured their jobs would be kept as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) declared it would not yet implement its plan to reduce the firm’s fleet.

“The (LTFRB) said the status quo in the motorcycle taxi (MC taxi) industry has maintained a status quo following the filing of Motion for Reconsideration by ride-hailing company MoveIt against the Department of Transportation (DOTr) order calling for a reduction in MC taxi fleet sizes and cessation of operations in other pilot study areas,” said the agency’s spokesman Ariel Inton in a statement on Friday.

He added, “The regulation of motorcycle taxis is still under a technical working group that is multi-agency. DOTr, LTFRB and LTO (Land Transportation Office). It’s not just the LTFRB that makes a decision on that.”

“Rest assured, the directive of Secretary Vince Dizon is ‘status quo.’ The motion for reconsideration by MoveIt will be studied by the TWG, so riders can still work,” Inton also said.

The LTFRB issued the statement following a rally by a group of MoveIt riders at the LTFRB’s main office in Quezon City, which protested the agency’s decision to remove 14,000 MoveIt units and halt pilot run of the motorcycle taxi service in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, according to radio reports.

Progressive transport leader Mody Floranda, who lost in this year’s elections for senator, declared his support for the said cause, saying ride-hailing transport companies would benefit from the alleged monopoly of public transport.

He accused the Marcos administration of neglecting the so-called crisis in public transport and job security, as well as letting the interests of private companies prevail.