Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18) – Transportation groups called on the government to remove the limits on the number of motorcycle taxis allowed to operate in the country.
Motorcycle taxi operations in the Philippines have been in pilot testing since June 2019. Only Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It have been allowed to operate under this phase.
A cap of 15,000 slots in Metro Manila, and 9,000 slots in Cebu and Cagayan De Oro was set for each of the three ride-hailing firms — though Angkas has exceeded this, having about 20,000 riders in the National Capital Region.
Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente convenor Louie Montemar urged the government to remove the cap to improve public transportation.
“Ito ay upang matiyak ang mas magandang karanasan sa pampublikong pagbibiyahe,” Montemar said, noting that no such limits are being enforced in other countries.
[Translation: This is to ensure a better public transportation experience.]
According to CitizenWatch convenor Atty. Kit Belmonte, the shortage of transport options has “resulted in the proliferation of illegal habal-habals (motorcycle taxis), which are being patronized by desperate commuters.”
“Because they are unregulated, the drivers of habal-habal do not have proper training and they do not have accident insurance,” he added.
Transport groups earlier estimated that there were about 200,000 habal-habal operators in Metro Manila.
Citing the recommendation of the Philippine Competition Commission, Passenger Forum convenor Primo Morillo said that the removal of the cap would lead to better commuter experience.
“The removal of limits for operating MTs [motorcycle taxis] will truly help commuters, riders, and even the government. We do not have to wait for the passage of the MT law to remove the cap as the TWG [Technical Working Group] can do it now,” Morillo said, referring to the Department of Transportation’s group tasked with studying motorcycle taxi services.
