LTFRB: Motorcycle taxi program continues, not eyed for termination

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Saturday said the ongoing motorcycle taxi pilot program has not been recommended for termination, five years after it was rolled out to the commuting public.

"The TWG (technical working group) did not endorse the termination of the program. What it terminated is the gathering of data and the program continues," LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, who heads the TWG for motorcycle taxi pilot study, said in a statement.

The ongoing pilot program initially allowed three motorcycle players—Angkas, Joyride, and Grab-led Move It—to serve as motorcycle taxi platforms in Metro Manila.

The study is being conducted to determine the safety and viability of two-wheel vehicles as a mode of public transportation, pending legislation.

Guadiz said that the TWG has endorsed to add more players and expand to additional areas in the program.

By doing so, the LTFRB chief said that it would enable the TWG to effectively ascertain the impact of the pilot study.

According to Guadiz, legislators believe that a limited study of three players within Metro Manila is not reflective of an encompassing study on the impact of MC taxis on safety and security, economy, traffic, and on other public transport modes.

"The study was stretched to more players and outside the borders of Metro Manila," Guadiz said.

The LTFRB recently accredited four more Transport Network Companies (TNC) with 8,000 accredited riders in Regions III and IV.

Guadiz said the LTFRB remains committed to ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive evaluation of the motorcycle taxi pilot program by expanding its scope and participants. — VDV, GMA Integrated News