SEN. Raffy Tulfo yesterday assured motorcycle taxi groups that he would find ways to provide a legal framework to operate and maintain motorcycle taxi networks.
Tulfo issued the assurance after Romeo Maglunsod, chairman of the United Motorcycle Community, told the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing that the “pilot run” of motorcycle taxis has long been in effect and it’s time to have the industry legalized.
Maglunsod said the prolonged pilot run of motorcycle taxis has pushed some of their members to find other means of income.
“Sa tagal kasi ng pilot run, gumugulang na ‘yung mga rider. Ang tagal ninyo i-regular eh, hindi ninyo ginagawang batas ito kaya nakaka -isip na ‘yung rider ng mga bagay na papabor sa kanila
(The pilot run has been prolonged so some riders are finding other ways to increase their income. You have yet to craft a law to legalize the industry, that’s why riders are resorting to other means which will work to their favor),” Maglunsod said.
He said among the “other means” of increasing their income is to turn off their ride-hailing app during peak hours and when there is heavy rainfall so the fares of passengers will go directly to them.
Maglunsod said that in 2019, the pilot run of motorcycle taxis should have lasted for just six months to one year. He added after five years, the industry has yet to be legalized and blamed the government.
“Ayaw ninyong makinig sa amin o di gagawa kami ng paraan para kumita kami ng mas Malaki. Ang tagal na ng pilot study. Sabi noon nung mag-usap kami six months to one year, eh limang taon na (You do not want to listen to our concerns, so we will find ways to increase our income. The pilot study is taking too long. They said that will only take six months to one year, but it is already five years),” he said.
Department of Transportation Undersecretary Andy Ortega said he understands the concerns of Maglunsod, adding it should be a wake-up call for the government.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Teofilo Guadiz the agency has submitted to the panel its findings and recommendations on the motorcycle taxis when Sen. Grace Poe was still its chairman months ago.
Guadiz said he would furnish Tulfo with a copy of their report.
Tulfo thanked Maglunsod for bringing up the issue before the committee.
“Mr. Maglunsod, thank you very much for raising that issue and I didn’t know that there are problems on the part of the legislative, the crafting of the measure here in the Senate. I am just the new committee chairman. So, maybe that was overlooked. So, I’ll look into this. I’ll make sure that this will be discussed again,” Tulfo said.
Tulfo also questioned why it has become hard to book rides with the ride-hailing company Grab during rush hours.
Atty. Gregorio Tingson, Grab’s public affairs head, said the ride-hailing company does not have enough riders, especially during rush hours.
“There are a lot of riders who do not accept bookings as they wait for traffic to ease. That’s why we’re looking for ways to incentivize the riders to get back on the streets, especially when they are needed by the riding public,” Tingson said.
Tulfo said Grab riders should ply the streets no matter what the conditions are on the road.
Tulfo added he has been receiving complaints of higher fares and some of the riders are canceling bookings during rush hours.
Tingson apologized and said they would have the complaints investigated.
Guadiz said riders who cancel bookings are penalized P5,000 for the first offense.
Tulfo also said that Grab should shoulder the 20 percent discounts granted to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students, on top of the 20 to 30 percent platform per booking so the drivers can take home around 50 to 60 percent of their earnings.
