PARTY-LIST group 1-Rider yesterday vowed to continue pushing for the passage of a House-approved bill seeking to legalize and regulate the operation of motorcycle taxis.
Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, whose party-list group is seeking re-election in the May midterm elections, said the bill will “provide a cheaper and safer alternative to the riding public who are looking for a reliable mass transportation for their daily commute.”
The measure remains pending in the Senate.
“Legalizing and regulating motorcycle taxis is a service that the riding public deserves. It provides commuters alternative to the traditional mass transportation, which is sorely lacking. We give them an alternative that is safe, efficient and economical,” Gutierrez said in a statement.
1-Rider not only wants to legalize motorcycles as a means of public transportation but also to reform the current transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) regulations following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for increased transportation options for the public.
The House of Representatives approved the measure last year after Marcos threw his support for the legalization of motorcycle taxis and the easing of TNVS regulations during a meeting with officials of Grab Holdings Inc. where he underscored the need for diverse and accessible transportation solutions.
Gutierrez, 1-Rider’s first nominee, said passing a law to legalize and regulate thousands of motorcycle taxis will not only serve commuters, but will also provide jobs and livelihood opportunities to riders.
He said House Bill No. 10424, or the proposed Motorcycle-for-Hire Act, which he co-authored, will protect the jobs of more than 60,000 riders who depend on the motorcycle taxi industry.
“The Motorcycle-for-Hire Act must be a priority legislation to drive our transport framework forward,” Gutierrez said. “This measure is in line with goals to advance the transportation infrastructure for the country and reflects the current needs for innovative solutions to urban mobility challenges.”
The House passed the measure in July 2024 and is awaiting the approval of the Senate, which also has its own version of his bill.
Gutierrez has been a long-time advocate of easing the burden of commuters and drivers and has also filed the National Traffic Centralization Act and Fair Traffic Apprehension Act as part of his program.
“We will work harder under the 20th Congress to make the Motorcycle-for-Hire Act a law. This is the least we can do for our thousands of riders and commuters,” he said.
