The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Saturday distanced itself from the controversy surrounding motorcycle taxi operations, particularly the cessation of ride-hailing services of Move It.

Instead, the agency assured drivers they may continue working while the issue is being addressed through a pending motion for reconsideration filed with the Technical Working Group (TWG) created by a Congressional committee.

“LTFRB does not have exclusive jurisdiction over motorcycle taxi operations. It’s just one of the government agencies that compose the TWG,” said LTFRB spokesperson Atty. Ariel Inton in an interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE.

He explained that the issues surrounding motorcycle taxi services have long been under the jurisdiction of the House of Representatives, which created the TWG to oversee the pilot testing of motorcycle taxis, particularly their safety protocols.

The TWG is composed of multiple government agencies, stakeholders, and safety organizations. It was initially tasked to support the passage of legislation on motorcycle taxis within six months. However, years have passed and no law has yet been enacted.

Under the past administration, the TWG’s primary function was to allocate motorcycle taxi units to operators like Angkas, Joyride and Move It. Each company was allowed to operate 15,000 motorcycle taxis, with Move It initially allotted only 6,000 units due to its status as a new player in the market.