Malacañang has urged Congress to pass the law granting a franchise to motorcycle taxis as they will help workers get to their workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases already did what it can do.
"The IATF has done what it could do. It has recommended to Congress that it renews the pilot study being conducted on Angkas and other similar businesses," he told "The Source" on Wednesday.
He hoped that Congress would at least extend the pilot study on motorcycle taxis.
"Hindi naman kasi pwede mag-operate nang walang franchise (They cannot operate without a franchise)," Roque said.
"Kung papayagan naman po ng Kongreso (If Congress would agree), through a resolution, yung (the) continuation ng pilot study prior to the approval of the franchise eh mapapayagan naman po sila (then they will be allowed to operate)," he added.
The Palace official, however, said it will still be better if Congress will just give motorcycle taxis their franchise.
"The best solution, of course, is for Congress to pass the franchise as law already but we leave that to the sound judgment of Congress," he said.
It was revealed last week that the IATF has endorsed the drafting of an “appropriate Congress resolution” that will allow motorcycle taxis to return to the streets. This was supported by several local chief executives in Metro Manila.
Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said last week that motorcycle taxis will not be back anytime soon unless Congress comes up with a law so that allowing the said transportation service will have a legal basis.
The Motorcycle Taxi (MC Taxi) Technical Working Group (TWG) led by Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante completed the pilot run of motorcycle taxis in March this year.