Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, Jan. 11, agreed with the a riders’ group in pushing for the Motorcycle Taxi Law and the Philippine Road Safety Institute bill if she wins in the May 2022 polls.
Robredo held a consultative dialogue with Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (KAGULONG)-Riders for Leni via Zoom to discuss the issues and agenda of the sector.
In particular, she wants to pass the Motorcycle Taxi Law that will legitimize and regulate motorcycle ride-hailing services in the country.
“Kasi lalong hindi siya naisasabatas, lalong hindi protektado hindi lang ‘yung motorcycle riders, pero pati ‘yung pasahero. Pati pasahero, hindi siya protektado kasi walang nagre-regulate sa kanya (Because as long as it is not put into law, the more that motorcycle riders and passengers are not protected. Even the passengers are not protected because nothing regulates it),” she told the participants.
The law will amend Republic Act 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code) to make motorcycle taxi services a viable solution.
She added that in some provinces, even her own hometown of Naga City, motorcycles are a means of public transportation.
Robredo is also backing the Philippine Road Safety Institute bill, which is authored by Senator Leila de Lima.
The presidential aspirant called herself an “advocate” of the bill that seeks to create an institute for road safety research in the country.
Part of the safety measures is the 30KPH speed limit in busy streets, which is an international standard.
“Ito ’yung (This is) the best kasi magpu-push tayo ng isang programa for (because we are going to push for a program for) road safety na (that) again, hindi siya mag-uumpisa sa taas, pero isang programa (it will not come from the top, but it’s one program) in partnership with you, with the sectors na unang-una na makikinabang (that will benefit the most),” Robredo said.
She will also revisit Republic Act 11235 or the Doble Plaka law, which aims to curb riding-in-tandem crimes.
Quoting transportation experts, Robredo said this law did not become effective because of the “additional requirement fees and unnecessary penalties.”
“So papaano natin sosolusyonan ito (So how are we going to solve this)? Again: konsultasyon (consultation),” she added.
The Vice President noted that the riders themselves should help solve the problem with the Doble Plaka and not officials who are not even riders themselves.
The Doble Plaka aimed at requiring motorcycles to also place a license plate in front of the motorcycle in bigger letters and numbers so it will be easier to identify the vehicle.
Robredo aims to get to the bottom of the radio-frequency identification (RFID) system that came under fire from motorists because of the problems encountered in its implementation.
“Kasi, mga pagbabago sa (Because the changes in our) RFID system natin, dapat, maging (it should be) convenient ito para sa mga motorista, di ba? (for the motorists, right)?,” she stressed.
Robredo and her running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan, together with their senatorial aspirants, have been holding consultative meetings with different sectors to understand the issues they face.