ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bill legalizing motorcycle taxis a House priority--Romualdez 

Bill legalizing motorcycle taxis a House priority--Romualdez 

Published Feb 25, 2024 12:19 am

At A Glance

  • House Speaker Martin Romualdez has identified as a priority measure the bill that seeks to legalize motorcycles taxis (MC taxis) as public transportation vehicles. 
  • Romualdez cited in particular House Bill (HB) No. 3412, which pursued this as well as the reform current transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) regulations. 
  • MC taxis have only been operating under a pilot testing set-up in Metro Manila and Cebu since 2019. 

IMG-eb91e36b2ab85a10f800cc63f5a04922-V.jpgHouse Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledging the importance of motorcycle taxis to the ordinary Filipino, House Speaker Martin Romualdez has identified as a priority measure the bill that seeks to legalize motorcycles taxis (MC taxis) as public transportation vehicles. 

Romualdez cited in particular House Bill (HB) No. 3412, which pursued this as well as the reform current transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) regulations. 

The measure was introduced in the current 19th Congress by 1-Rider Party-list Reps. Rodge Gutierrez and Bonifacio Bosita. 

“Marami na pong kababayan natin ang nabigyan ng trabaho at kabuhayan mula sa industriya ng motorcycle taxis. Panahon na pong kilalanin sila bilang responsableng bahagi ng lipunang Pilipino at mabigyan ng sapat na regulasyon para mapangalagaan ang interes ng mamamayan,” Romualdez said. 

(The motorcycle taxi industry has given many Filipinos a lot of jobs and livelihood. It's about time we acknowledge them as a responsible part of Philippine society and provide the regulatory framework to protect the people’s interest.) 

Romualdez's pronouncement was a direct response to President Marcos' advocacy for increased transportation options for the Filipino people, as demonstrated by his support for the legalization of MC taxis and the easing of TNVS regulations. 

The President's stance was notably expressed following his meeting with officials from Grab Holdings Inc. at Malacañang, wherein he underscored the need for diverse and accessible transportation solutions. 

The bill aims to address the legal barriers that currently prevent motorcycles from being used as common carriers, thereby fostering a more inclusive and flexible transportation framework. 

ALSO READ: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/25/grab-s-exclusion-in-motorcycle-taxi-pilot-study-a-fair-move-says-manila-solon

 

This initiative is also seen as a step towards formalizing the status of MC taxis, which have been operating under a pilot testing set-up in Metro Manila and Cebu since 2019. 

The MC taxi bill is also seen as a response to the rapid development of app-driven Transport Network Companies (TNC), which have highlighted the necessity for updated regulations that keep pace with technological advancements and evolving public needs. 

The proposed legislation is expected to facilitate better regulation, enhance safety standards, and contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery post-pandemic. 

Echoing the President's message, Romualdez added, "The legalization of motorcycle taxis and the relaxation of TNVS regulations align with our goals to provide more choices for passengers, drivers, and businesses, particularly MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises). 

"This approach not only addresses the demand for more accessible public transport but also contributes to the economic recovery and employment opportunities in the country."

 

Related Tags

1-Rider party-list motorcycle taxi Martin Romualdez
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.