The Land Transportation Office (LTO) issued a stern warning to riders of the pilot participants of the Motorcycle (MC) Taxi Pilot Study Program of the government to refrain from asking for fares that exceed the guidelines of the technical working group on MC taxis and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
LTO Chief, Asst. Sec. Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade reminded Angkas, Move It, and JoyRide riders – the companies that are considered as key players in the MC Taxi Pilot Study Program – to avoid overcharging their passengers amid the holiday rush.
“The TWG on MC Taxis is currently conducting a pilot study for the operation of MC Taxis in the country. The group also conducted an inspection of the operations of the MC taxi pilot participants to determine their compliance with issuances of the TWG,” Tugade, who also heads the technical working group, said on Friday, Dec. 30.
Meanwhile, the three MC taxi pilot participants assured the LTO that they will monitor their riders so they can stop them from overcharging their passengers.
The LTO gave the reminder after it received complaints from commuters who were charged with excessive rates by motorcycle taxis even for short distances.
Due to the holiday rush, commuters experience difficulties in riding public transportation which prompt them to resort to riding motorcycle taxis, which are exploited by some riders. There were also some riders who reportedly go off from their work earlier than their schedules to do “habal-habal” rides and earn extra money.
But Tugade said habal-habal is considered colorum and riders who will be caught doing such will be charged for violation of Joint Administrative Order No. 2019-01 or the “Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Laws, Rules, and Regulations Governing Land Transportation.”
“There is no law that authorizes, recognizes, and regulates habal-habal to be a mode of public transportation so what they are doing is illegal,” Tugade stressed.
The LTO Chief appealed to the public not to patronize habal-habal riders and report them to LTO in case they encounter any of them.