Motorcycle taxi operator Move It said the reconstitution by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) of the technical working group (TWG) on motorcycle (MC) taxis will lead to the swift passage of the proposed MC Taxi Act.
“The reconstitution of the TWG ensures the continuous operation of MC taxis pending enactment of the appropriate legislation legalizing and regulating the MC ride-hailing service in the country,” Move It said a statement.
Last November 7, Jaime Bautista, DOTr secretary, issued Department Order No. 2022-021 reconstituting the TWG as the body that will oversee and monitor the continuous pilot implementation of MC taxi operations.
Move It is one of the three firms taking part in the government-backed pilot study for the safety and viability of MC taxis.
“We earnestly hope that the reconvening of the TWG will provide a stronger basis for the MC taxi to be legalized,” Move It said.
Move It also reiterated its appeal for government to open up the MC industry to “free and open competition” for the benefit of the riding public.
“It is about time that the government allows more players and not limit the MC taxi business to only three companies so that we can give our commuters more options. The convenience and safety of our commuters should be our primordial concern,” Move It said.
The DOTr order provides that the TWG shall be composed of the DOTr assistant secretary and chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) as chair; a board member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) as vice chair; and the chief of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic, chairperson of the Office for Transportation Cooperatives, chief of the LTO-Law Enforcement Staff, chief of the LTFRB Technical Division, and representatives from the DOTr Road Transport and Infrastructure Office, or their duly authorized representatives, as members.
Aside from monitoring and overseeing the MC taxi pilot implementation, the TWG has the power to review and supplement guidelines and regulations to ensure proper and effective coordination among all concerned government agencies and stakeholders involved; and to ensure that the data and information from the pilot implementation shall be properly reviewed and submitted to Congress. – Myla Iglesias
