Senator Grace Poe reassured the public that the ongoing delay in passing the law to legalize motorcycle taxis will not result in job losses for the 60,000 Filipinos working as motorcycle riders.
Speaking on Saturday, Poe emphasized that the absence of a regulation law should not prompt the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to halt motorcycle-for-hire services.
“Sa mga kababayan, huwag po kayong mag-alala sapagkat napaka-importante nitong serbisyo na ito ng mga motorcycles for hire, at hindi ito dapat itigil ng LTFRB dahil lang hindi pa naipapasa ang batas (To our countrymen, do not worry because this service is very important, and the LTFRB should not stop it just because the law hasn’t been passed yet),” Poe said.
Possible Senate Support for Extension
Poe noted that the LTFRB has the authority to extend the program for motorcycle taxis while the proposed law is being finalized.
“Kung kailangan nila ng Senate Resolution mula sa amin para meron silang legal cover, pwede naman naming gawin yan (If they need a Senate Resolution for legal cover, we can provide that),” she added, explaining that the Senate could sign a resolution to back the LTFRB’s decision to continue operations.
The pilot program for motorcycle taxis, launched in 2019, is intended to assess their viability and safety as a public transportation option. However, without formal legislation, the legality of these services may be questioned if the 19th Congress fails to pass the bill.
Commitment to Safety and Specificity
Poe assured the public that the Senate is carefully reviewing the proposed law to ensure it is specific and comprehensive.
“Huwag matatakot ang ating mga kababayan, ang ating mga pasahero o kaya yung mga providers nito dahil habang itong batas na ito ay ating binabalangkas, tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang kanilang pamamasada (The public and service providers should not worry. While we draft this law, operations will continue),” she said.
The Way Forward
The bill remains under scrutiny, but Poe’s statements aim to ease concerns from both passengers and service providers as the government works toward finalizing legislation for motorcycle taxis.