The Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III-led House of Representatives has committeed to pass the long-sought Motorcycle (MC) Taxi Law in the current 20th Congress.

This assurance was made during the hearing of the House Legislative Energy Action Development (LEAD) Council on Wednesday, April 16, where lawmakers discussed the impact of rising fuel prices on key sectors, including transportation workers whose earnings were directly affected by the elevated pump fuel prices.

LEAD Council presiding officer Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Miro Quimbo said the push to institutionalize MC taxis and transport network vehicle services (TNVS) was part of a broader effort to provide structural, long-term solutions rather than short-term aid to sectors hit hardest by the fuel price crisis.

Invoking the directive of Speaker Dy , Quimbo gave a firm assurance that the measure will be completed within the current Congress.

“Basta ito ang pinapangako namin sa inyo sa harap ng ating mga kasama na sinasabi ni Speaker Bojie Dy na sa kongresong ito tatapusin natin ang batas patungkol sa MC taxi, TNVS para magkaroon na talaga ng katiyakan dyan dahil napakatagal na po nating naghahanap ng katahimikan dyan. ‘Yan po ang isang bagay na talagang itinutulak natin,” Quimbo said.

(This is what we promise you, in front of our colleagues, as Speaker Bojie Dy has said, that in this Congress we will finish the law concerning MC taxis and TNVS so that there will finally be certainty, because we have long been seeking clarity on this matter. That is something we are truly pushing for.)

He added that with Committee on Transportation Chairman Quezon City 3rd district Rep. Franz Pumaren present, the passage of the twin measures would be a defining test of House leadership.

Pumaren echoed this commitment during the same hearing and stressed that the MC taxi bill was already in its final stages.

“As chairman of the Committee on Transportation, I will give my full assurance na papasa po ‘yan dito sa Kongreso (that it will pass during this Congress),” Pumaren said.

The assurances from House leaders came after an emotional manifestation from MC taxi leader Romeo Godoy Maglunsod, who appealed to lawmakers to finally pass the measure after years of delay across multiple Congresses.

Maglunsod said the proposed law was repeatedly stalled despite being taken up since the 17th Congress. This has left more than 200,000 riders in legal uncertainty.

He emphasized that riders were not asking for dole-outs but for reforms that would allow them to earn in a legal manner, even as they cited the need to lower fuel costs, reduce platform commissions, and establish a stable regulatory environment.

He also highlighted the lack of access to basic social protections such as SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth among riders, due to the absence of a regulatory framework.

The proposed MC Taxi Law seeks to formally recognize and regulate MC taxis as a legitimate mode of public transportation, setting standards for accreditation, safety, fares, insurance, and working conditions.

For years, MC taxis have operated under pilot programs overseen by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), with platforms serving millions of commuters, particularly in congested urban areas.

The measure is also being aligned with reforms covering TNVS, which include app-based ride-hailing services using cars.

Like MC taxis, TNVS drivers face issues related to fare regulation, commission rates, and classification.

Consolidating these reforms will provide a comprehensive framework that ensures commuter safety while protecting the livelihood of drivers and riders.

The discussion on the proposed MC Taxi Law within the House energy crisis council underscores how the ongoing fuel crisis has exposed deeper structural gaps in the transport sector.

House members also noted that while cash aid and fuel subsidies provide temporary relief, sectors like MC taxi riders and TNVS drivers require long-term solutions that stabilize income and reduce vulnerability to price shocks.