A transportation advocate on Thursday questioned the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for not considering regulating motorcycles as public utility vehicles.
At the Usaping Balita media forum in Quezon City, Ariel Inton, president of Lawyers for Commuters’ Safety and Protection and a former LTFRB board member, said the drivers of the mobile-app based Angkas ride and the motorcycle taxi riders were well-trained and careful than private motorcycle drivers.
“I don’t see any reason why the government continues to refuse to regulate the ride-hailing motorcycles,” Inton told the Manila Standard.
He made his statement even as the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group said Thursday it had yet to receive proper guidance from the LTFRB on the apprehension of the bikers of the motorcycle ride-hailing firm Angkas, whose operations were ordered suspended by the Supreme Court.
“There is no official request yet from the LTFRB. We first need to coordinate with LTFRB on what grounds, fines and other penalties [to impose] as LTFRB is the lead agency in [the] franchise of Angkas,” Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo, HPG director, told reporters.
In Board Resolution 095, the LTFRB ordered its law enforcement unit and other traffic enforcement agencies to impound the motorcycles of Angkas if they are found operating as public utility vehicles.
Under the law, a motorcycle registered as a private vehicle may not “at all times” be used for public use, Inton said.
But he challenged the LTFRB for allowing private motorcycles being used by companies to deliver goods.
“We hope that the government would open its mind that ride-hailing drivers are more professional than ordinary bikers,” he said.
“Why can’t the LTFRB ban the habal-habal? They are used as PUV to service commuters, too.”
The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order against a decision of the Mandaluyong City court that blocked authorities from apprehending drivers operating under the motorcycle-hailing firm Angkas.
The restraining order directed Branch 213 that came up with an Aug. 20 decision that the LTFRB could not apprehend Angkas riders.
“We plan to file an intervention with the high court,” Inton said. With PNA“‹