Palace: Congressional nod needed to allow return of motorcycle taxis

Securing permission from Congress will be the “best solution” for motorcycle taxi service providers, Malacañang said Wednesday, even as the government urged lawmakers to resume the pilot run.

“Hindi kasi pupuwede naman na mag-operate nang walang franchise pero kung papayagan naman po ng Kongreso through a resolution iyong continuation ng pilot study prior to the approval of the franchise eh mapapayagan naman po sila,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a CNN Philippines interview.

“The best solution of course is for Congress to pass the franchise as law already but we leave that to the sound judgment of Congress.”

Last week, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) endorsed to the House transportation committee the request of Metro Manila mayors for the Department of Transportation to continue the pilot study.

Ride-hailing firms Angkas and JoyRide welcomed the IATF’s move.

Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca said on October 8 that Angkas’ fleet is ready to serve commuters as he assured that its partner-drivers have been trained on proper disinfection of vehicles after every trip.

He said the company will utilize cashless payment schemes, IATF-approved barriers between the rider and passenger, and not allow the sharing of helmets.

Operations of motorcycle taxis were cut short in March, ahead of the pilot study’s expiration in April, due to the enforcement of an enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The pilot run took place as Congress evaluated bills pushing for the legalization of motorcycles as public utility vehicles.—AOL, GMA News