The Technical Working Group (TWG) on motorcycle taxis earlier today announced the implementation of a revised cap of the participants, and the expansion of the pilot areas to include Cagayan de Oro.
This after a public hearing was convened by the House Committee on Transportation on the legalization of motorcycle taxis today, January 20, at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.
At the start of the hearing, Committee on Transportation Chairman Cong. Edgar Sarmiento read through the timeline of the Motorcycle Taxi Service program, and immediately moved to conduct the hearing under an executive session.
Following this, the committee, the TWG on Motorcycle Taxis, and the representatives of the 3 TNC participants – Angkas, Joyride and Move It – agreed to settle the various issues of the pilot study implementation.
After which Sarmiento announced that the pilot study will push through, superseding the decision of its termination that was announced last Monday at the counterpart Senate hearing.
The TWG is expected to complete the pilot study by March 2020, and other issues agreed upon including the implementation of a revised cap of the participants, and the expansion of the pilot areas to include Cagayan de Oro. The cap on riders has been increased, from the original 39,000 riders to 63,000, distributed as follows – 45,000 (15,000/TNC) in Metro Manila while 9,000 (3,000/TNC) each in Metro Cebu and Cagayan De Oro.
“To add it all, magkakaroon tayo ng 63,000 na cap ngayon. But then hindi naman po ‘yan limited lang as what the Secretary explained to Angkas. Because in the implementing rules and regulations, nakasaad po dun na there is a ‘redistribution’ provision,” said TWG Chief Gardiola.
Explaining further, the TWG chief stated, “Ang ibig pong sabihin nito, kung hindi kaya ng isang player to come up with the number of rider, ibibigay po ‘yun sa company na ready and have that number of riders.”
“Everybody wants to make it work for the riding community. Talaga pong excited kami sa pilot at makipag-tulungan sa gobyerno. And hopefully we can get the success with the pilot study for the necessary law to be passed,” Angkas Regulatory and Public Affairs head George Royeca said in the joint press conference with the TWG, following the hearing. (DOTr)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
