The government pandemic task force has endorsed the resumption of a pilot study on motorcycle taxis while waiting for the passage of a law allowing it as another mode of public transpiration.
The Metro Manila mayors earlier appealed for the continued operations of motorcycle taxi service providers under the pilot implementation apparently to ease commuter woes during the pandemic.
"The IATF endorses to the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation the request of the local chief executives of the National Capital Region for the Department of Transportation to continue the pilot study of motorcycle taxis pending enactment of the appropriate legislation authorizing the same,” the latest IATF resolution read.
The latest government decision was reached during a meeting of the task force chaired by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and co-chaired by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Monday. It was contained in IATF resolution No. 77 released by the Palace Tuesday.
The pilot study on motorcycle taxis was initiated last year to determine if the ride-hailing motorcycle taxis are safe alternative mode of transportation. The pilot implementation, participated by Angkas, JoyRide and MoveIt, expired last April.
These two-wheeled public transport vehicles are currently considered illegal unless Congress crafts a law allowing their operations.