A bill seeking to regulate motorcycles-for-hire is a step closer from becoming a law after the House of Representatives approved it on third and final reading.
The chamber, voting 200 against 1 with zero abstention, approved House Bill (HB) 10424 which allows the operation of motorcycles as common carriers for the transportation of passengers and goods, including parcels and mail.
“The House of Representatives acknowledges that motorcycles-for-hire not just serve as an efficient alternative to mass public transportation but also a viable source of livelihood for Filipinos,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said.
“This bill aims to provide safe, sufficient, and economical mode of public transport by allowing and regulating the use of motorcycles as public utility vehicles,” he added.
HB 10424 seeks to mandate the registration of motorcycles-for-hire with the Land Transportation Office to ensure the roadworthiness of all motorcycle-for-hire before their registration, or renewal of registration.
Once enacted into law, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) would be given the power to regulate the operation of motorcycles-for-hire operating in areas where there are no operating digital platforms.
The number of routes or units that may be allowed to operate shall be in accordance with the local public transport route plan recommended by the local government unit concerned.
The bill also sets the requirements for the grant of a franchise or issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience, which include: a) Proof of Filipino citizenship, b) Financial capacity, c) LTO Certificate of Vehicle Registration, d) Insurance coverage and e) Tax Identification Number or Certificate of Registration as Common Carrier.
It also provides a 60 kilometers per hour (60kph) speed limit for motorcycles-for-hire.
Meanwhile, the Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 2555, which seeks to amend the “Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.”
Sponsored by Senator Francis Tolentino and authored by Senators JV Ejercito, Ronald Dela Rosa, and Raffy Tulfo, the bill introduces key amendments such as removing the “Doble Plaka” requirement, installing a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sticker at the front portion of motorcycles, and reducing fines.
The bill also gives motorcycle owners until June 30, 2025 to renew their registration, and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) until December 31, 2025 to issue required plates.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: House OKs bill regulating motorcycles-for-hire
