DOTr okays 6-month pilot run of motorcycle taxis

MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has approved the pilot implementation of motorcycle taxi operations for six months in Metro Manila and Cebu starting in June.

In a statement Friday, Secretary Arthur Tugade has approved the guidelines for the pilot implementation of motorcycle ride-hailing services such as Angkas following its recommendation by a technical working group (TWG) which was created by the department to review the issue of allowing motorcycles as a form of public transportation.

The TWG consisting of the DOTr, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, Metro Manila Development Authority, and representatives of the Senate, House of Representatives, commuter welfare groups, road safety advocates, motorcycle manufacturers, motorcycle organizations and law schools.

“Our approval of the pilot implementation of the motorcycle taxi operations is proof that the government is listening to and addresses the woes, concerns and suggestions of our riding public,” Tugade said.

The DOTr created the TWG last December which crafted the general guidelines for the implementation of the pilot run.

The transportation chief reminded motorcycle ride-hailing firms to strictly adhere to safety requirements on their operations.

Among these requirements are the required wearing of safety gears like helmet, reflectorized vest and vest-based strap or belt; compliance to speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour; proper maintenance of their motorcycle and wearing the appropriate driver’s uniform.

Riders must render a maximum of 10 hours of service per day and accident insurance should be provided in an amount which is the same or higher than the Passenger Personal Accident Insurance Program for public utility vehicles.

Motorcycle taxis shall have a fare of PHP50 for the first two kilometers, an additional PHP10 per kilometer until seven kilometers, additional PHP15 for succeeding kilometer, and a surge rate cap of 1.5x in Metro Manila.

For Metro Cebu, the initial charge will be PHP20 for the first kilometer, an additional PHP20 per kilometer up to eight kilometers, and PHP20 per kilometer for destinations beyond eight kilometers.

Motorcycle taxis must only operate through their ride-hailing app platform. A comprehensive data should likewise be submitted to the DOTr to include all incidents of road crash, passenger complaints, trip details and fares collected.

The transportation department has also set key performance indicators which include accident threshold, reporting of traffic violations and feedback from regular passengers.

“If the total number of major or minor accidents for the duration of the pilot run reaches 5 percent, we will call for an emergency TWG, which will be followed up by an investigation and an appropriate action which may or may not include the suspension of the pilot implementation,” the DOTr statement read.

The implementation of the pilot run will serve as the basis for Senator JV Ejercito’s Senate Bill No. 2180 which will allow the use of motorcycles as public utility vehicles.

Meanwhile, Angkas said it welcomes the decision of the DOTr to approve the pilot run of the motorcycle taxis and urged legislators to pass a measure allowing motorcycles to operate as a mode of public transportation.

“The pilot seeks to aid Congress in its efforts to legislate a proper motorcycle taxi bill, which is now undergoing revisions in the Senate. We hope that the Angkas pilot will serve to show legislators and regulators the viability of this mode of transport so we can fully pass it into a law,” said Angkas Chief Executive Officer Angeline Tham in a separate statement.

Motorcycles are currently prohibited to operate as public transport services under Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation Code.

In December 2018, the Supreme Court (SC) issued a temporary restraining order in favor of the DOTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) seeking to stop the operations of Angkas run by DBDOYC Inc.

The High Court’s order voided a September 2018 ruling issued by the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court in favor of Angkas.