A transport group has asked President Marcos to intervene in what it described as an uncontrolled surge of motorcycle taxis that is now affecting the daily income of legitimate operators and drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs).
Boy Vargas, president of the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), said the regular assessment of the impact of the surge of motorcycle taxis revealed that almost 50 percent of the income of operators of jeepneys, UV express, buses and tricycles are lost to motorcycle taxis.
He said this is proof that the surge of motorcycle taxis is not only a concern of their group but also of other transport groups.
“We have been monitoring a significant increase in the number of motorcycle taxis and this has really adverse effects to legitimate PUV operators and drivers not only in Metro Manila but also in other urban areas,” said Vargas.
“It appears that there is no more regulation on motorcycle taxis. Anybody, as long as they have a motorcycle, could operate motorcycle taxis,” he added.
Vargas also called on House Speaker Martin Romuladez to assist the transport group at least in regulating the motorcycle taxis, saying they are also receiving reports that a number of people are availing loans for motorcycles specifically for motorcycle taxis.
He, however, emphasized that they have no problem with the motorcycle taxis as they are additional transportation means. What they were concerned about, he said, was the uncontrolled increase in the number of motorcycle taxis.
According to the LTFRB, only three motorcycle ride-hailing companies are allowed to operate but transport groups said that the surge of motorcycle taxis is a manifestation of difficulty or failure of regulation.
The worst part, transport groups said, is that the surge in the number of motorcycle taxis is happening at a time when the government is supposed to be conducting a pilot study of its viability.
“If this is just a pilot study, why is it that the increase of motorcycle taxis is not controlled or regulated properly? What we are asking is for the government to stick to the number of allowed motorcycle taxis,” Vargas emphasized.
Transport groups then urged the LTFRB to stop accrediting more motorcycle taxis since the more motorcycles are accredited, the bigger its impact to various transport groups.
They also called for thorough consultations with all stakeholders regarding the operation of motorcycle taxis.