Move It seeks fleet cut reversal

Motorcycle taxi service provider Move It has urged industry regulators to reconsider what it claims is an order from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to reduce its operational fleet — a move that could leave nearly 14,000 of its riders at risk of losing their jobs.

“We will submit a Motion for Reconsideration. We hope for fairness to ensure that no rider will lose their job,” said MOVE IT general manager Wayne Jacinto in a press conference on Wednesday.

Jacinto noted that displacing 14,000 riders would affect 14,000 families — or around 50,000 individuals — assuming an average household size of four.

“We want to give fair and honest service to our customers. Given how hard it is to access public transport, why reduce the riders’ fleet now?” he said.

Layoffs to affect thousands

The company and its rider leaders warned that the layoffs would affect thousands of drivers who had already undergone safety training and were actively serving commuters.

On Wednesday, the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group (MC Taxi TWG), where the LTFRB belongs, imposed sanctions on Move It, “for repeatedly violating government-imposed fleet limits and failing to comply with mandatory reporting rules under the motorcycle taxi pilot study.”

In a formal order, the TWG directed Move It to rightsize its fleet to what has been allocated to them by government and stop operations in areas where they have not been granted authority to operate, such as Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.

Move It has also been directed to fully comply with reportorial requirements on activation, deactivation, and reactivation of riders.

The sanction stemmed from a December 2024 Show Cause Order, where motorcycle taxi companies have been asked to explain allegations of breaching their rider allocations.

More than double

Records submitted to the TWG confirm that Move It was allowed 6,836 motorcycle taxi units by the government, but it was discovered that it operates with at least 14,662 riders — more than double its allowed number, and deemed “colorum” units against the law.

Move It was also found to have failed to report rider status changes, a key compliance requirement.

The company did not refute this lapse in its response.

Meanwhile, MOVE IT rider-leader Jerry Cruz questioned the timing of the order, which comes just days before Labor Day and amid persistent public transport issues in Metro Manila.

“Just when Labor Day is approaching, you will cut the livelihood of thousands of riders?” he noted.

“Many riders messaged me... they’re worried they might lose their jobs,” said Andy delos Santos, Unified Motorcycle Taxi Community representative.

“We were quietly just doing our jobs... then suddenly we’re going to be let go... we’re talking about 14,000 riders, 14,000 families here.”