By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On Monday (Nov. 25), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III issued a statement debunking false and misleading information on uncontrolled increase of motorcycle taxis.
“LTFRB did not increase the number of MC taxi[s] in NCR. It has been pegged at 45,000 [units] three (3) years ago. It still stands at 45,000,” stressed Guadiz, explaining the number has remained the same as it was three years ago.
“The increase was in Region 3 (at 4,000) and Region 4 (at 4,000),” he added.
Allegations that the Technical Working Group (TWG) for MC taxi did not submit the result of the study that led to the passage of House Bill (HB) no. 10571 were also refuted by the LTFRB chairperson.
The LTFRB chairperson also belied allegations that the Technical Working Group (TWG) for MC taxis did not submit the result of study, which became the basis of the passage of a bill at the House of Representatives.
“House Bill 10571 or the motorcycle taxi bill, which aims to provide a safe and economical public transportation option by regulating the use of motorcycles was passed by congressmen last October. The bill is now at the Senate Committee on Transportation for deliberations for the eventual approval of its Senate version of the Motorcycle Taxi Law,” Chairman Guadiz said.
Meanwhile, Chairperson Guadiz noted that the decrease in the ridership was a result of the change in work pattern among employees.
“Decrease in ridership was the result of the change in work pattern (work from home, asynchronous academic schedule for schools, increase in use of mass transport like trains and buses),” the chairperson said.
Major transport groups in the country claim that there has been an uncontrolled rise in the number of motorcycle taxis in the country, which is consuming at least 50 percent of their daily income.
The LTFRB stressed that only three motorcycle ride-hailing companies are authorized to operate across the country.
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