In an election period, politicians promise heaven for all constituents.
With May being the midterm elections– or slightly over 5 months from now– they have a chance to not just promise but deliver on a law that would save 60,000 jobs for motorcycle riders and their dependents, whose fate rests on the proposed Motorcycles-for-hire law that must be passed before the 19th Congress ends.
Motorcycle taxis (MCTs) have been a reliable source of ride for commuters amid a worsening public transport system and road traffic that just gets worse by the day.
The motorbikes are able to weave in and out of every small spaces on the road to get to the commuters’ destination faster than cars or buses.
Only trains, which are always fully packed, can bring commuters to schools and offices on time, sans hustle of walking in congested roads and waiting for the next ride to their destination.
Teofilo Guadiz III, chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), was right in appealing to members of Congress to pass the law soon and save this big number of jobs for the riders.
Guadiz told media after the hearing on Tuesday at the Senate that: “Dahil pilot study ito, they (riders) derive their existence from the pilot study of the 19th Congress.”
“Pag nag-bow out si 19th Congress, mawawala ang MC taxi. Mawawalan ng hanapbuhay ang ating mga riders,” Guadiz was quoted by Bilyonaryo News Channel.
Guadiz said he wants MCTs on the road as they can help commuters when there’s a shortage in jeepneys or buses (which is usually the case).
Like the LTFRB, motorcycle taxi riders who held a motorcade outside the Senate last Tuesday are hoping for the passage of the bill.
The Motorcycle Taxi Community Philippines cited the need for clear regulations so there would be less habal-habal, or illegal motorcycle taxis.
Sen. Grace Poe echoed the sentiment, saying, “We need to legalize to reflect the reality on the ground. Alam natin na maraming mga drivers ng sasakyan na nagsasabi ang gulo gulo ng mga motorsiklo, hahala hala sa kalsada, magka cut ganito ganyan pero kung may disiplina naman pwede naman tayo maging harmonious sa kalsada.”
Lawmakers also tackled complaints from some Grab drivers that they shoulder the 20 percent student and senior citizen discount instead of the transportation network company (TNC).
In response, Guadiz said, “We’re now drafting a memorandum circular which will be implemented this February wherein all of the discounts will now be shouldered by the TNV operator and the owner of the app. Definitely, the drivers should not be included in the equation. Dapat walang sino-shoulder ‘yung driver.”
But Guadiz also said they are looking at applying an 80-40 split for the discount, saying the TNC would shoulder 80 percent, while 40 percent would be shouldered by the operator.
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