A lawmaker has pressed anew for the speedy passage of a law regulating the operations of motorcycles-for-hire following a recent call by transport advocates to lift the limit on the number of these vehicles allowed to ply the country’s roads.

Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte also noted that the pilot study authorized by the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on the viability and safety of motorcycles-for-hire as a mode of commuter transport has dragged on, continuing on its fourth year in 2023 with no certainty on when this would be concluded and its recommendations released to the public.

“As a result, the number of ‘habal-habal’ rides, or those motorcycles-for-hire operating outside the purview of the pilot study conducted by the LTFRB, has continued to increase.

Passengers who cannot book through motorcycle-hailing apps authorized by the LTFRB because of the lack of available rides are left with no option but to patronize these illegal habal-habal and compromise their safety,” Duterte added.

Duterte was referring to the LTFRB-created Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group (MC Taxi TWG) in 2019 upon the directive of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The MC Taxi TWG was reconstituted in November last year and continues to oversee the pilot implementation of motorcycle taxi operations by companies like Angkas, Joyride and Move It.

Several transport advocacy and consumer groups, such as CitizenWatch Philippines, Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente and The Passenger Forum have clamoured for the lifting of the limit imposed by the MC Taxi TWG on the number of motorcycle taxis allowed to operate.

The cap is currently set at 45,000 participants under the pilot study.

The groups said the lack of affordable, fast and convenient travel options, such as these motorcycle taxis, have given rise to illegal habal-habal rides, whose riders do not have proper training or insurance coverage to protect themselves and their passengers.

Duterte noted that these groups have raised a valid concern and that House Bill (HB) 4470, which he filed last year with Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and ACT-CIS Rep. Edvic Yap, provides the legislation that would legalize and regulate motorcycle taxis, along with 14 other similar measures.

Duterte recalled that during the hearing conducted by the House Committee on Transportation last December 2022, several government agencies, including the DOTr, Land Transportation Office (LTO), LTFRB, and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), have all expressed their support for the proposed motorcycles-for-hire law.

Even the representatives of the League of Provinces, League of Cities, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, Motorcyle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA) and Angkas have backed the measure, Duterte said.

HB 4470 and similar other bills pending in the House of Representatives provide, among others, that motorcycles intended to be used as vehicles for hire must be registered with the LTO, which, in turn, shall ensure the motorcycles’ roadworthiness before registering them or renewing such registration.

HB 4470 also sets the speed limit of motorcycles-for-hire at a maximum of 60 kilometers per hour to ensure the safety of riders and passengers.

The House Committee on Transportation has created a technical working group to consolidate and harmonize HB 4470 and the 14 other similar measures.