Poe: Impasse on Motorcycle Taxi Law will not result in job loss

Senator Grace Poe on Saturday assured that there would be "no loss of jobs" for motorcycle riders despite an impasse in the passing of the law that would legalize motorcycle taxis in the country.

"Sa mga kababayan, huwag po kayong mag-alala sapagkat napaka-importante nitong serbisyo na ito ng mga motorcycles for hire, at hindi ito dapat itigil ng LTFRB dahil lang hindi pa naipapasa ang batas," Poe said in a statement on Saturday.

(To our countrymen, do not worry because this service is very important to motorcycles for hire, and this should not be stopped by the LTFRB just because the law hasn’t been passed yet.)

Poe said that the absence of a regulation law should not cause the loss of jobs for over 60,000 Filipinos working as motorcycle riders and that the Senate could issue a resolution to support an extension for legal coverage.

"Nasa LTFRB naman talaga ang deadline kung itutuloy nila ito o hindi. Pwede naman silang magkaroon ng extension pending the passage of the bill. Sila naman yung pumapayag dyan," said Poe.

(The deadline of whether to pursue it or not lies with the LTFRB. They can implement an extension pending the passage of the bill. They are the ones who would approve that.)

"Kung kailangan nila ng Senate Resolution mula sa amin para meron silang legal cover, pwede naman naming gawin yan. Iyong Resolution ay pinipirmahan ng mga senador para sabihin na suportado namin ang extension habang ang panukalang batas ay aming sinusuri," she added.

(If they need a Senate Resolution from us to have legal cover, then we can do that. The Resolution is signed by senators to say that we support the extension while we are reviewing the proposed law.)

Earlier, the LTFRB could become “illegal” if the 19th Congress fails to pass a law. Currently, motorcycle taxis are operating under a pilot program which was launched in 2019.

The program aims to evaluate the viability and safety of motorcycles-for-hire as a public transportation option.

Poe, meanwhile, said senators are still scrutinizing the bill as they want to be "very specific and comprehensive with this law."

"Huwag matatakot ang ating mga kababayan, ang ating mga pasahero o kaya yung mga providers nito dahil habang itong batas na ito ay ating binabalangkas, tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang kanilang pamamasada," Poe emphasized.

(The public should not worry. While we are drafting this law, they will continue to operate.)

—Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News