THE House of Representatives has included in its list of prioritize bills the passage of a measure seeking to legalize motorcycles as public transportation vehicles and reform the current transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) regulations following President Marcos Jr.’s call for increased transportation options for the public.
Speaker Martin Romualdez said House Bill (HB) No. 3412, authored by 1-Rider party-list Reps. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez and Bonifacio Bosita, needs to be approved especially since the President has already demonstrated his support for the legalization of motorcycle taxis and the easing of TNVS regulations during a meeting with Grab Holdings Inc. where he underscored the need for diverse and accessible transportation solutions.
“The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are foundational to our democracy. It’s imperative to adapt our laws to the evolving transportation landscape to ensure the well-being and convenience of our citizens,” the Speaker said.
The bill aims to address the legal barriers that currently prevent motorcycles from being used as common carriers for a more inclusive and flexible transportation framework. The initiative is seen as a step towards formalizing the status of motorcycle taxis, which have been operating under pilot testing in Metro Manila and Cebu since 2019.
“Marami na pong kababayan natin ang nabigyan ng trabaho at kabuhayan mula sa industriya ng motorcycle taxis. Panahon na pong kilalanin sila bilang responsableng bahagi ng lipunang Pilipino at mabigyan ng sapat na regulasyon para mapangalagaan ang interes ng mamamayan (Many of our countrymen have been given jobs and livelihood by the motorcycle taxi industry. It’s time to recognize them as a responsible part of the Filipino society and be given enough regulations to protect the public’s interest),” Romualdez said.
The motorcycle taxi bill is also seen as a response to the rapid development of application-driven transport network companies, which have highlighted the necessity for updated regulations that keep pace with technological advancements and evolving public needs.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua, a vice chair of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, backed the President’s call to legalize MC taxi, saying it will finally address the issues that affect the riding public as well as drivers.
Chua also welcomed the decision of the Department of Transportation’s technical working group headed by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Teofilo Guadiz III to exclude Grab in the pilot study on motorcycle transport services or MC taxis, saying Grab appears to have committed various violations which rendered the ruling “fair.”
“During the committee hearing, we discovered several violations on the part of Grab so it’s a welcome development (that it is excluded). It was the right decision, a fair decision on the part of the DOTR-TWG,” Chua said.
Chua had earlier castigated Grab for its supposed attempt to bypass government regulations and gain dominance in the app-based transportation sector, which he said began in August 2022 when it acquired Move It, an MC taxi company, despite the DOTR’s rejection of the partnership.
During the committee hearings last year, lawmakers found “multiple instances of non-compliance with proper procedures and the circumvention of government regulations” from Grab, such as unpaid penalties, overcharging, dominance abuse, and even mistreatment of its riders.