Move It challenges Binoe on motorcycle taxi bill
By Nidz Godino
“The gridlock caused by Paeng paralyzed jeepneys and buses, and commuters were helpless in the rain for hours without a ride…if motorcycle taxis have been fully mobilized and legalized, there would have been more of them to serve commuters,” Move It Chairman Francis Juan pointed out motorcycle company taxi company Move It has challenged Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla to champion bill legalizing motorcycle taxi business, which has potential to provide livelihood to hundreds of thousands of motorcycle owners and provide more versatile public transport, especially during heavy traffic.
Juan said motorcycle taxis could have saved the day for thousands of commuters stranded by Tropical Storm “Paeng” a few days ago if they were not deemed illegal under an existing law.
Motorcycle taxis, he explained, can transport passengers through traffic and, in normal situations, to destinations not served sufficiently by public transport such as Bonifacio Global City from EDSA and other inner roads.
He stressed technical working group (TWG) has already submitted its report on motorcycle taxi business to Congress.
“In the last Congress, the House, realizing urgent need to create jobs and provide public service to commuters, passed their version in virtually one day…Senate, while saying it would do the same, did not even file a bill yet,” Juan said. “Three years of TWG study with zero output from our politicians. Every day of delay only benefits us Angkas, Joyride and Move It while public, commuters pay the price…this has to stop.”
Juan added motorcycle owners must earn to pay for their monthly amortization and feed their family. He said about 200,000 illegal motorcycle taxis (habal-habals) risk apprehension each day but continue to ply Metro Manila’s roads.
“Please protect the drivers and commuters, not the businessmen who own three motorcycle taxi companies under TWG,” he said.
Furthermore, government should stop its mindset of putting cap on number of operators and number of motorcycle taxis because monopolies and duopolies are banned by Constitution.
“Promote competition for service to improve. ..wth competition, fares might even go down…there must be mix of modes of transport to give commuters choice,” Juan concluded.
ISKUP! 