No increase in MC taxis in three years — LTFRB
“NO increase in the number of motorcycle taxis (MC taxis) in Metro Manila.”
This statement was issued yesterday by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairperson Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III, debunking false and misleading information on uncontrolled increase of motorcycle taxis.
Guadiz emphasized that the LTFRB did not increase the number of MC taxis in the National Capital Region (NCR), explaining it has remained at the same number as it was three years ago.
The only increase was implemented in Regions III and IV, the LTFRB chief pointed out.
“LTFRB did not increase the number of MC Taxi in NCR. It has been pegged at 45,000 three (3) years ago. It still stands at 45,000,” stressed Guadiz.
“The increase was in Regions 3 (at 4,000) and Region 4 (at 4,000),” he added.
“All the allegations are false and misleading,” Chair Guadiz underscored.
The LTFRB chairperson also belied allegations that the Technical Working Group (TWG) for MC taxi did not submit the result of study, which became the basis of the passage of a bill at the House of Representatives.
“House Bill 10571 or the motorcycle taxi bill which aims to provide a safe and economical public transportation option by regulating the use of motorcycles was passed by congressmen last October. The bill is now at the Senate Committee on Transportation for deliberations for the eventual approval of its Senate version of the Motorcycle Taxi Law,” Guadiz said.
He noted that the decrease in the ridership was a result of the change in work pattern among employees.
“The allegations in the report that the TWG for MC taxi did not submit any report is false. The TWG had submitted the result of its study to the House Committee on Transport and to the Senate Committee on Transportation. The TWG report was the basis for the passage of the bill by the House solons,” Chairperson Guadiz explained.
“Decrease in ridership was the result of the change in work pattern (work from home, asynchronous academic schedule for schools, increase in use of mass transport like trains and buses),” the chairperson said.
Major transport groups in the country claim that there has been an uncontrolled rise in the number of motorcycle taxis in the country, which is consuming at least 50 percent of their daily income.
The LTFRB stressed that only three motorcycle ride-hailing companies are authorized to operate across the country.
