Move IT decries LTFRB order to reduce its units

Ride-hailing app Move It on Wednesday decried the order of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to reduce its motorcycle units and cease operation in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro City.

In the statement, Move It said the LTRFB's order to reduce its fleet by 7,826 units will displace thousands of its riders.

"Alam natin kung gaano kahirap sumakay ng transportasyon na pampubliko; Ngayon pa natin itataon na magtatanggal tayo ng riders?" Move It General Manager Wayne Jacinto said as he questioned the timing of the release of the order.

(We know how difficult it is to ride public transportation; We're going to start laying off riders now?)

In a Viber message, LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III told GMA News Online that the agency has yet to receive the motion for reconsideration.

“The order is not yet final as there is a motion for reconsideration. We will wait for the motion / arguments of Grab (which operates Move It),” he said. 

Meanwhile, United Motorcycle Taxi Community representative Andy Delos Santos said many motorcycle riders are worried about their livelihood.

"Nanahimik kami, nagtatrabaho kami... tapos bigla kaming tatanggalan ng trabaho. 14,000 na rider, 14,000 na pamilya ang pinag-uusapan dito," he said.

(We are working quietly, then all of a sudden, we will lose our jobs. We’re talking about 14,000 riders and 14,000 families.)

According to the LTFRB order, Move It has 14,662 riders, which is beyond the 6,836 allocation.

Move It is directed to impose an immediate and temporary moratorium on getting new riders for one year and submit a verified master list of the prescribed number of riders within 30 days.

LTFRB also ordered the ride-hailing app to ensure transparency and regulatory oversight with the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group.

Failure to comply may lead to the suspension of its authority to operate.

Delos Santos said motorcycle riders would go out on the streets to relay their message to the government.

Jacinto also said Move It will submit a motion for reconsideration to the LTFRB Wednesday.

“Hiling po namin maging patas po sana, wag sana mawalan ng hanapbuhay ang mga rider—at sana pakinggan kami ng kinauukulan ng sa ganun, wag naman po sana ma-displace sila; kawawa naman po sila," he said.

(We’re asking for fairness, that our riders won’t lose their livelihood, and that our government would listen to us. We hope our riders will not be displaced.)—LDF, GMA Integrated News