Hundreds of motorcycle taxi riders appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, to halt the implementation of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's (LTFRB) rider allocation, or capping, system, warning that it could leave thousands of riders without a livelihood.

The riders said the capping system, along with the proposed prohibition on multi-apping, threatens the income of thousands of motorcycle taxi drivers and their families, prompting them to seek a review of the policies and a dialogue with the government.

The group said its primary concern is the uncertainty facing riders who may not be included in the allocation allowed for each motorcycle taxi platform once the new provisional authorities are implemented.

They questioned where riders who fail to secure a slot under a platform would be able to work, stressing that the issue goes beyond rider allocation and directly affects the livelihood of thousands of families who depend on motorcycle taxi operations.

To press their appeal, the riders staged a motorcade from EDSA White Plains to the LTFRB central office along Kalayaan Avenue in Quezon City, where they sounded their horns in protest against the agency's policies.

The convoy occupied one lane along portions of Kalayaan Avenue and East Avenue, causing slow-moving traffic, although traffic remained generally orderly and no program was held outside the LTFRB office.

The motorcade ended at around 4:30 p.m., according to the rider group.

In an interview with Manila Bulletin, JoyRide rider and representative who identified himself only as "Mananato" said the policy would further reduce the already limited earnings of riders.

"Pinaglalaban namin ang karapatan ng bawat isang rider dahil kakapiranggot na lang ang kinikita namin. Gusto pa nilang bawasan. Para saan? Ang gagawin nila ay pahirapan pa lalo ang kagaya naming mahihirap (We are fighting for the rights of every rider because we are already earning very little, yet they still want to reduce it. For what? All they are doing is making life even harder for poor people like us)," he said.

The riders also urged the LTFRB to reconsider the proposed ban on multi-apping, saying it allows them to continue earning by accepting bookings from different platforms during periods of low demand.

They argued that multi-apping does not compromise safety because riders can only complete one trip at a time, while competition among motorcycle taxi platforms encourages better incentives, more bookings, and improved rider protection.

Although the group said it supports government regulation, safety measures, and accountability in the motorcycle taxi industry, it maintained that policies should be clear, practical, humane, and crafted in consultation with riders and commuters, adding that the current rider cap no longer reflects the growing demand for motorcycle taxi services.

The protesters called for a dialogue with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez, the LTFRB, motorcycle taxi platforms, and rider representatives to discuss their concerns over the capping system and the proposed ban on multi-apping.