Motorcycle taxis are allowed to operate only on trial basis pending the issuance of government permit, but complaints of overcharging from its customers are already mounting.
This prompted the Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, to call on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to act on complaints of motorcycle taxi passengers who were allegedly charged exorbitant fares by the drivers.
The complainants said the operators of motorcycle taxis even illegally deployed the so-called “habal-habal” after transportation network company (TNC) riders had turned off their apps at the height of the Christmas holiday rush.
Acop said the DOTr should immediately address complaints of overcharging by TNCs like Angkas and Joyride and check if the memo on pilot-testing for motorcyle taxis was being followed.
A law regulating motorcycle taxis is pending in Congress. Meanwhile, the TNCs were allowed to operate under a pilot-testing program governed by a provisional authority issued by a DOTr Technical Working Group (TWG).
Acop pointed out that the DOTr should also evaluate the fares charged by TNCs to determine if these are compliant with the memo regulations that allow them to charge up to twice the normal rates.
“Nakalagay sa memo na pwede magtaas ng charge up to twice ng normal rate,” Acop told the media. “Kailangan ng figures to determine kung nasusunod.”
Various groups have condemned that they call “pambubudol” of popular motorcycle taxi companies, which further exacerbates the plight of commuters reeling from the shortage of public transportation with the resumption of economic activities to pre-pandemic levels.
“We understand that times are difficult, and that great need may be prompting these drivers to act against the interests of the people they intended to serve. Certainly, however, this does not justify taking advantage of the hapless Filipino commuter who is already so burdened by day-to-day survival challenges” the CitizenWatch Philippines said:
“We also reiterate our call for the swift passage of the Motorcycle Taxi bill into law so that all players in this sector will be regulated and bound to a commitment to public service,” it added.
Louie Montemar, convenor of Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3) said the situation calls for the passage of the motorcycle taxi law to ensure the safety and accessibility of this mode of transportation. “Hindi dahilan ang hirap ng buhay para gumawa ng mga mapagsamantalang bagay sa ating kapwa, lalo na sa ating mga kababayang nagsisikap sa araw-araw para magkaroon ng kaunting ginhawa, at para maramdaman man lang ang saya na dulot ng Pasko.”
Acop said that in a previous hearing tackling the pilot-testing program, he raised the same issue, and that despite this the pilot-testing program was indefinitely extended.
According to Acop, this was tantamount to giving TNCs licenses to operate even if they were only being allowed to do so under a pilot-testing program.
“Hindi tama ‘yun. It’s usurping Congress’ power to give a franchise.”
In the days leading up to Christmas Day, netizens voiced out their frustrations with Angkas riders who had turned off their apps and were picking up and contracting desperate passengers near malls and charging double or more than the normal rates.