SEN. Grace Poe is confident the proposed measure to legalize motorcycle taxis in the country will be passed on third and final reading before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die in June.
In a radio interview, Poe, the former Committee on Public Services chair, said the passage of the proposed measure is being prioritized by the Senate more than five years after its pilot test runs.
House Bill No. 10424 or the Proposed Motorcycle for Hire Act was passed by the House of Representatives on July 30, 2024. It was forwarded to the Senate for the latter’s approval.
Poe said she has talked to Sen. Raffy Tulfo, the current committee chairman, who said he would sponsor the proposed measure before both houses of Congress take a break for the campaign period starting February 7.
Poe sees the smooth passage of the measure in the Senate since the majority of senators are supportive of the bill.
“So, ang sponsorship, sa tingin ko bago mag-break nitong February, hopefully maipasa naman natin bago mag-adjourn ang 19th Congress sa June. So ito ‘yung ating timeline sa ngayon
(So, the sponsorship [of the bill] will be before our break on February [7], hopefully, we can pass this before the 19th Congress adjourns on June [13]),” Poe said.
She said a measure should be passed to legalize motorcycle taxis and make sure there is a comprehensive policy to ensure the safety of the riding public.
“So, kaya ngayon ipinapanukala natin dahil hindi naman sila puwedeng mamasada na walang naaayon na permit. At hindi basta-bastang magbibigay ng permit kung wala namang basehan sa batas, kaya talagang kailangan na mayroon batas para dito (So, that’s why we are proposing [the legalization] because they [motorcycle taxis] cannot operate without the necessary permits. And the government cannot just issue permits without a law which will be the basis),” she added.
Poe said the absence of a law that will legalize motorcycle taxis should not result in the loss of jobs for the more than 60,000 riders nationwide since the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board has the authority to allow their continued operations by extending the pilot implementation pending the passage of the bill into law.
The LTFRB earlier said the operations of motorcycle taxis would be considered illegal if the 19th Congress ends without passing the measure.
She said the Senate can also come up with a resolution that will state that the senators support the extension of the pilot testing while the proposed measure has yet to be passed, which will be the “legal cover” of the motorcycle taxis.
She said the pilot testing that launched test runs for regulated motorcycle taxis and courier operations has been finished and is now being used as the basis to fortify the bill.
Sen. Tulfo last week terminated the hearings on the proposed measure and will soon come up with a committee report.