DOTr OKs 6-month pilot ops of motorcycle taxis in Manila, Cebu

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation has given the green light to implement the pilot run of motorcycle taxis in two major cities in the country for six months in a bid to further study the function of two-wheeled vehicles as public transport service.

DOTr announced Friday that motorcycles taxis such as ride-hailing application Angkas will be allowed to operate for a six-month test run in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu starting the first week of June.  

A total of 27,000 riders are expected to participate in the pilot implementation of motorcycle taxi operations.

“Importante ang pilot implementation na ito upang ma-refine pa natin ang general guidelines, at masilip ang mga posibleng problema sa proseso o sa standards, nang sa gayon ay makatulong tayo sa pagbabalangkas ng batas na talagang akma sa mga pangangailangan at kaligtasan ng ating mga commuter,” Mark De Leon, DOTr undersecretary for road transport and infrastructure, said.

Following the development, the agency reminded motorcycle taxi drivers and passengers to follow safety requirements such as wearing a helmet, reflectorized vest and vest-based strap or belt as well as following the speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour and maintaining the good condition of vehicles.

Fare matrix

Based on DOTr’s guidelines, the base fare rate in Metro Manila for the first two kilometers of the ride will be at P50. An additional P10/km will be charged for succeeding kilometers up to seven kilometers. Beyond seven kilometers, there will be an additional charge of P20/km.

For motorcycle taxis in Metro Cebu, P20 will be charged for the first kilometer. There will be an additional charge of P16/km for succeeding eight kilometers and additional P20/km beyond eight kilometres.

The DOTr will impose a surge cap of 1.5 times the fare.

In December last year, the Supreme Court stopped the operation of Angkas after issuing a temporary restraining order against an earlier ruling of a lower court, which had prevented the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board to apprehend drivers of Angkas. —  Gaea Katreena Cabico