A lawmaker urged the Senate on Thursday to fast-track the passage of the long-stalled bill that aims to legalize and regulate motorcycle-for-hire services amid concerns that 60,000 riders will lose their jobs if the proposal isn’t enacted before the end of the 19th Congress.

Motorcycle taxis have become an efficient and cost-effective alternative mode of transportation for thousands of commuters. However, the operation has remained under the “pilot study” program since its launch in 2019.

1-Rider Rep. Ramon Gutierrez emphasized that it’s high time to conclude the pilot phase by passing the proposed law, which is still pending at the committee level in the Senate. The House of Representatives passed its counterpart as early as July last year.

“We at 1-Rider Partylist have worked tirelessly to ensure the approval of this crucial legislation in the lower house… I urge my fellow legislators in the Senate to prioritize this legislation to prevent the loss of these vital jobs and to continue supporting an innovative solution to our urban mobility challenges,” Gutierrez said.

The lawmaker highlighted that legalizing motorcycle taxis will not only generate and sustain thousands of jobs for riders but will also be a vital step in improving the country’s transportation system, especially amidst worsening traffic conditions.

“It is our responsibility to secure these jobs and provide a framework that not only legalizes but also regulates this mode of transportation, ensuring both safety and economic benefits for our citizens,” he asserted.

According to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, the operations of motorcycle taxis are only legal under the pilot study. He warned that once the 19th Congress ends in June, motorcycle taxis will no longer be allowed to operate, putting roughly 60,000 riders’ livelihoods at risk.

Based on the House calendar, Congress has only nine session days before it goes on a break on 7 February for the election campaign. After the May 2025 polls, sessions will resume from 2 to 13 June, one month before a new batch of lawmakers is sworn in.

Guadiz expressed hope that the Senate will pass the bill before the 19th Congress adjourns.

The LTFRB oversees the pilot study, which aims to determine whether motorcycle-for-hire services are feasible, safe, and should be legalized as a mode of public transportation. Only Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It (acquired by Grab Philippines in 2022) are the leading players in the study.

As of 2023, there are 45,000 riders registered under the pilot program.

In 2019, Congress approved a six-month pilot run for motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro. The study was supposed to end in 2021 but was extended indefinitely by the current Congress, pending the passage of legislation regulating the sector.

Earlier this week, the Motorcycle Taxi Community Philippines urged the Senate to expedite the bill’s passage, asserting that motorcycle taxis will “provide a practical solution to urban traffic woes.”

Senator Grace Poe, the former chairperson of the Senate Public Services Committee that reviewed the measure, also believes that the proposal’s enactment is long overdue.

“The motorcycle-for-hire bill has been on a long and winding road to passage. Our tank is full. It’s time to start our engines and put our years of work into motion,” said Poe, who now chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

If passed into law, HB 10424 would amend the Land Transportation and Traffic Code (RA 4136), which currently prohibits the use of two-wheeled vehicles for public transport.

The measure seeks to mandate motorcycle-for-hire registration with the Motor Vehicles Office to ensure the roadworthiness of all vehicles before registration or renewal. The LTFRB would regulate the operations of motorcycle-for-hire in areas without digital platforms.

The number of routes or units allowed to operate would be in accordance with the local public transport route plan recommended by the local government unit.

The proposed law also sets a speed limit of 60 kph for motorcycle-for-hire.

The LTFRB would be tasked with prescribing fares, surcharges, and other transportation fees that operators, online e-commerce platforms, or motorcycle taxi providers may charge. The fare structure would be set in consultation with the motorcycle-for-hire industry and subject to the approval of the Department of Transportation.