HOUSE OKAYS MOTORCYCLE-FOR-HIRE BILL ON FINAL READING

A MEASURE 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 on Tuesday.

The Chamber, voting 200 against 1 and zero abstention, has approved House Bill (HB) No. 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 Ferdinand Martin G. 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.

Some of the principal authors of the measure include Reps. Rachael Marguerite Del Mar, LRay Villafuerte, Rodge Gutierrez, Zia Alonto Adiong, Manuel Jose Dalipe, Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Brian Yamsuan, Rufus Rodriguez, Joel Chua, Salvador Pleyto, Romeo Acop, Midy Cua, Antonio “Tonypet” Albano and others.

HB 10424 seeks to mandate the registration of motorcycles-for-hire with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 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 (LGU) 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.

The proposed legislation also requires the registration of Motorcycle Taxi Platform Providers (MTPPs) and Online E-commerce Platform Providers (OEPPs) with the Securities and Exchange Commission and sets forth the minimum accreditation requirements that must be maintained by these digital platforms.

It also provides a 60 kilometers per hour (60kph) speed limit for motorcycles-for-hire.

LTFRB is also tasked to prescribe the fares, surcharges and other transportation fees that may be charged by operators, OEPPs or MTPPs for motorcycle-for-hire services.

The fare structure shall be set in consultation with the motorcycles-for-hire industry and subject to the approval of the Department of Transportation.

HB 10424 also holds the operator and the MTPP or OEPP jointly and solidary liable for death, injuries, or damage to property occurred in the course of operating a motorcycle-for-hire, with rights of subrogation against any party at fault.