Body cameras proposed for motorcycle taxi riders to boost safety

Motorcycle taxi riders may soon be required to wear body cameras under a proposal being considered by transport regulators as part of a broader set of safety measures ot protect both riders and passengers.

According to a "Saksi" report by Tina Panganiban-Perez, this was one of the recommendations of motorcycle taxi companies and the 1-Rider party-list to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) during a hearing of the committee on transportation at the House of Representatives.

Calls for stronger safety measures for motorcycle taxi riders have intensified following the killing of Ren Ren de la Viga in Cavite and Fabio Norberte Jr., who was stabbed with an ice pick in Caloocan City.

"Kung kayang i-provide ng kanilang operator na may bodycam din para malaking bagay po yon na deterrent, na lahat ng riders mayroon siyang monitoring ng camera," said Colonel Joel Jucutan of the Highway Patrol Group,

Greg Pua of the LTFRB said they have drafted a circular that would soon require all transport network companies (TNC), including four-wheel ride-hailing services and motorcycle taxi providers, to implement a mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) verification for passengers.

"Ang nakasaad dito, yung ating mga pasahero ay kailangan nilang gumawa ng account, mag-submit ng government ID at magkaroon ng real-time facial verification bago sila makagawa ng account doon sa platform na ‘yon. Kapag ang booking na matatanggap ng ating riders ay hindi verified, pwede niya itong hindi tanggapin o ikansela without any penalties on our part," he said.

(Under the proposal, passengers will be required to create an account, submit a valid government-issued ID, and complete real-time facial verification before they can use the platform. If a rider receives a booking from an unverified passenger, the rider may decline or cancel the booking without incurring any penalties.)

1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez said the memorandum circular would provide clear policies on the safety of both riders and passengers.

He also called on law enforcers to enhance police visibility, especially in high-risk areas.

During the hearing, the possibility of providing insurance coverage for the riders and passengers was also discussed, as were the benefits the riders should receive under the law. —LDF, GMA News