All is well that ends well as far as motorcycle taxis and their patrons are concerned.
The House Committee on Transportation chaired by Samar Rep. Edgar Sarmiento yesterday announced the end of the impasse regarding the operation of popular motorcycle taxi services as authorities agreed to increase the cap on the number of riders as well as the expansion of the pilot testing area to Visayas and Mindanao.
Much of the groundwork for this breakthrough was laid down during a meeting last Tuesday between Department of Transportation Secretary Art Tugade and representatives of motorcycle taxi companies Angkas, Move It, and JoyRide.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Board Member Antonio Gardiola Jr., who last Monday said that motorcycles-for-hire will be declared “illegal” starting next week, also attended the meeting. He sang a different tune yesterday following the panel hearing.
“I just want to relay what the Secretary said yesterday. Yung study po natin hanggang March 23, but still he is very open, he is very open to adjusting it or extending it,” Gardiola said, revealing a very lenient set-up for the three companies moving forward.
He said the original 30,000 rider cap (or 10,000 for each company) will be raised to 45,000 (15,000 each) in Metro Manila, which is the pilot area for Luzon. Moreover, Cebu will now serve as the pilot area for Visayas, while Cagayan de Oro City will be for Mindanao.
Gardiola said the total nationwide cap will now be 63,000, as approved by Tugade.
Sarmiento said that this number can even increase if needed to accommodate other riders for other service providers such as Joyride.
“The number is now irrelevant. Kailangan talaga, lahat ng mananakay, kung kailangan, ibigay muna natin sa kanila. Huwag na natin pigilan ang numero. Mahirap na pag pigilin natin, alam naman natin ang dahilan. Napakasikip ng kalsada, ang motorsiklo na lang ang pinakamadaling sakyan,” said the House panel chairman. (Ellson Quismorio)