SEN. Joseph Victor Ejercito yesterday pressed for the approval of his bill pushing for the legalization of motorcycle taxis as a public utility vehicle (PUV) to allow government to regulate their operations for the safety of the riding public.
Ejercito noted that today, motorcycle taxis are operating only by virtue of a provisional authority to operate issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
“Kasalukuyan kasi ginagamit na ‘yan (motorcycles) for delivery, courier, at motorcycle taxi because of technology. Pero wala pang (batas), provisional authority to operate pa lang (Motorcycles are presently used for delivery, courier, and motorcycle taxis because of technology. But there is no law to allow their legal operations, only a provisional authority to operate),” Ejercito said.
In July 2022, Ejercito filed Senate Bill Number (SBN) 167, or the proposed Public Utility Motorcycles Act, which seeks to amend the 58-year old Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, to allow motorcycles to become PUVs that can legally ferry passengers from one point to another for a fee.
Several senators have likewise filed their respective bills seeking to legalize motorcycles for hire.
Ejercito said the safety of passengers and drivers is the primary reason why a law is needed to regulate the industry.
In the explanatory note of SBN 167, the senator said that traveling using motorcycles has become popular because “it is the fastest way to reach your destination… Whether going to work early in the morning or rushing home to catch a scheduled family dinner, riding a motorcycle has been the go-to form of transportation.”
“Instead of banning the hiring of motorcycles as taxis, we push for its regulation. The safety of both passengers and drivers should be the paramount consideration in granting franchises or licenses to operate such motorcycle taxis. Safety shall always be valued more than convenience,” said Ejercito.
“In allowing the existence of motorcycle taxis, we also do our part in helping our economy prosper. We create jobs by legally allowing our people to use their roadworthy motorcycles to be used for earning money. The passengers are now also given the choice to hire motorcycles to ride going to their place of work. Getting to work on time means more productivity for industries and more positive effect on our economy,” he added.
