The Motorcycle Taxi Community Alliance on Friday appealed to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTRFB) for the speedy resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by transportation network Move It to ensure that some 14,000 riders will continue to keep their jobs.
In a peaceful rally held in front of the LTFRB, the alliance of moto-taxi riders sought the recall of the April order of the regulatory body which would put thousands of Move It riders in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro out of work despite operating legally within the bounds of the law.
According to Romeo Maglunsod, alliance chairperson, the inaction by the LTFRB is causing uncertainty among its members, whose livelihoods are in limbo unless the order is reversed by the regulatory body.
“Habang kami’y nagpapasalamat sa DOTr at LTFRB sa pansamantalang pagpigil sa pagpapatupad ng kautusang posibleng magtanggal ng kabuhayan sa 14,000 riders, ang pagkaantala ng pormal na pagbawi ng kautusang ito ay nag-iiwan sa amin sa alanganin,” Maglunsod said. “Bawat araw na walang desisyon ay isang araw na kami’y nabubuhay sa takot—takot na mawalan ng trabaho, ng dangal, at ng kakayahang suportahan ang aming mga pamilya.”
On the eve of Labor Day, the LTFRB suspended Move It’s operations in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, and slashed by half its fleet allocation in Metro Manila on the bases of an old press release and outdated data and memorandum.
Move It immediately filed for a motion for consideration. Days later, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon intervened to halt the implementation of the LTFRB order pending review of the appeal.
The motion argues that Move It is operating legally in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, citing memorandum circulars and communications issued by the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group (TWG) that support the legality of its operations.
Additionally, Move It asserts that it operates within the mandated 15,000-slot cap in Metro Manila, as stipulated by an official TWG memorandum circular, which divides the total 45,000 slots equally among the three authorized players: Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It.
“Naniniwala kami na panahon na upang tapusin ang ganitong sitwasyon upang kami’y patuloy na makapaghanap-buhay sa mahalagang panahong ito, para mas maraming Pilipino ang magkaroon ng pagkakataong mamuhay nang may katarungan at hindi lang umaasa sa ayuda. Iyon ang hinihingi namin sa gobyerno—isang patas at makatarungang pagkakataon upang ipagpatuloy ang aming kabuhayan sa kalsada,” Maglunsod appealed to the government.