Move It, a local transport solutions provider, asked the government to allow 200,000 habal-habal in Metro Manila to temporarily operate legally under the motorcycle taxi pilot study.
“These forgotten people only need one thing: for the government to allow them to temporarily operate legally just like Move It, Angkas and Joyride. Or for Congress to fast-track the passage of the bill legitimizing the motorcycle taxi business,” Move It chairman Francis Juan said in a statement.
He said there are about 200,000 habal-habal taxis in Metro Manila—all risking being caught each day just to earn for their family.
The Technical Working Group of the Department of Transportation under the Duterte administration initially limited to Angkas and then added two more players later the number of motorcycle taxi companies under the pilot program to study the business although there were other interested parties.
It allocated only 15,000 driver slots for each of the three participants.
Move It said Angkas, benefiting from a head start, borrowed most of its slots as the former was too small to use up its allocation. Angkas claims to have about 30,000 drivers today, compared to Move It’s 1,000.
“We missed the opportunity to adopt an inclusive policy by going with restrictions and caps instead of open competition. But late as it is, the government can and must do it. These habal-habal drivers need to earn without having to look over their shoulder,” said Juan.
Juan said the pilot had been running for three years now, and Angkas and Joyride benefited from a protected business in the absence of the MC taxi law.
Zaldy Lenon, national director for media affairs at Alliance of Road Users and Motorcycle Advocate Society, in a separate statement, lauded Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista for his support to the motorcycle taxi industry.
Lenon said the legalization of the motorcycle taxi would benefit not only the riders but also the commuting public.
