Lawmaker backs calls vs motorcycle taxi expansion

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the House of Representatives committee on Metro Manila development has joined calls against the expansion of the pilot testing of motorcycle taxis in the National Capital Region.

Panel chair and Manila Rep. Joel Chua said on Friday he would likely call for an inquiry into the reports that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) opened 8,000 more slots for the pilot testing, which started in 2019.

“This should be investigated by Congress,” he said. The program currently covers 51,000 motorcycles.

The LTFRB recently stopped a planned expansion of the motorcycle taxis since the pilot study is scheduled to end in May, after which a technical working group (TWG) is set to finalize its recommendations on the issues surrounding this mode of public transport.

The recommendations will be submitted in May to the House, which is looking into the issue.

Chua has called on President Marcos, the Department of Transportation and the TWG to prioritize the motorcycle taxis’ “sustainable expansion outside Metro Manila.”

He underscored the need for a “balanced approach that considers the city’s traffic flow integrity.”

The lawmaker added that it is important to ensure “inclusivity and sustainability” by taking the concerns of various transport groups “championing a more organized, efficient, and safe transportation system that caters to the diverse needs of all commuters and residents in Metro Manila.”