Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 13) — Transportation authorities are looking to roll out the motorcycle taxi pilot study to more areas outside Metro Manila, an official said.
Land Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza floated the idea during a House hearing on Tuesday, with the following areas included in the report of the Department of Transportation Technical Working Group (DOTr-TWG): Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Iloilo, Bacolod, Pampanga, Davao, Zamboanga, Legazpi, General Santos, Pangasinan, and Baguio.
The pilot run currently covers three areas: Metro Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro served by Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It.
Mendoza said seven new groups have expressed interest in entering the market, namely, Cloud Panda Philippines Inc., Taxi Philippines Inc., E Pick Me Up Inc., Easy Way Transport Service and Multipurpose Cooperative, Para Express Technology Services Inc., Grab Philippines, and Market Innovators Inc.
Two groups said while they welcome more competitors in the motorcycle taxi market, the government must spread operations outside the capital region.
“Sobrang dami na kasi dito. Mamatay ang mga tricycle (There are too many here. The livelihood of tricycle drivers will die),” National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines president Ariel Lim said.
The Passenger Forum lead convenor Primo Morillo backed this, saying the implementation must be countrywide.
