Bill legalizing motorcycles for hire filed in Senate

A bill seeking to allow motorcycles to be used as a commercial vehicle to transport passengers and goods has been filed in the Senate.

Senator Sonny Angara, in filing Senate Bill 1025, wanted to amend the Land Transportation and Traffic Code to allow motorcycles to be registered with the Land Transportation Office as "for hire."

He said traffic in Metro Manila is getting worse by the day with the mass transit systems constantly breaking down and many commuters left with no choice but to use motorcycles-for-hire or "habal-habal" to get from point A to point B.

"However, technically, the increasingly-popular mode of transport is still considered illegal under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which covers the registration and operation of all motor vehicles in the country,” he said.

Angara said Angkas, for instance, was allowed to operate for six months starting last June 8 as part of a pilot-run of "motorcycle taxis."

"Commuting in Metro Manila has become very challenging. A typical commuter has to allocate at least two hours to get to work or school and that is if their regular modes of transport are available. What if the MRT breaks down? Kulang pa ang 2 oras mo sa byahe," he said.

"Tulad nitong nangyari sa LRT-2 na nasunog. Libo libong Pilipino ang naperwisyo nito at karamihan sa kanila ay habal na ang sinasakyan para mas mabilis makarating sa destinasyon nila at mas mura din ito kumpara sa Grab," he added.

Under Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, motorcycles are only allowed for either private or government use and prohibits its listing as a vehicle for hire.

"However, individuals and even unaccredited transport groups, continue to utilize motorcycles for public transport despite explicit prohibition of such operation under the same law,” Angara said.

He said motorcycles-for-hire have long been around and for some provinces, this is even a considered a primary mode of public transportation.

“The demand for this service simply cannot be ignored, which is why I have filed a bill seeking to legalize the operation of motorcycles-for-hire,” the senator said.

Under Senate Bill 1025, in order to be registered for transporting passengers, a motorcycle must have a minimum engine displacement of 125 cubic centimeters and a backbone-type built.

The LTO will be tasked to ensure the roadworthiness of motorcycles-for-hire before they are registered.

To further ensure their safety, no modifications on the motorcycles will be allowed, except for the installation, based on safe engineering design specifications, of motorcycle luggage carriers, saddlebags, step boards or foot pegs and appropriate speed limiter and monitoring device. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News