Riders of motorcycle taxis —the most prominent of which is Angkas—can continue taking this mode of transportation until March 23 next year. The pilot run for what is also known as habal-habal was supposed to have ended Dec. 18, but insistent public demand prompted authorities to renew the test run on Dec. 23, for another three months.
Technically, motorcycles bringing passengers from point A to point B for a fee is illegal. A law from 1964 says that motorcycles can only be either private or government vehicles. There is no mention of them being public vehicles. They are not TNVS—transport network vehicle service—units, either. The Transportation department says that only sedans, Asian utility vehicles, sports utility vehicles, vans and other similar four-wheeled vehicles fall under this category.
And yet the blue-and-black long-sleeved shirt of Angkas drivers, as well as the similarly colored helmets they and their passengers wear, have become all too common in Metro Manila.
Certainly, motorcycle rides are dangerous. They offer little protection to those on them, who are out in the open as opposed to those sheltered by the sturdy bodies of four-wheeled vehicles. And while the drivers vow to be careful, some could show some poor judgment on the road or could simply be unfortunate to be alongside those who do not know better.
Despite these risks, the rides are popular.
They are a fast way to get around the metro given the traffic for which we have come to be notorious. They are convenient compared to enduring our inefficient public transport system. They are relatively cheaper compared to the pricey Grab or taxi options.
Given that Filipino commuters are pushed against the wall with hardly no options to get to their destinations, and that motorcycle rides, risks notwithstanding, provide a viable solution to their travel woes, it is high time authorities looked into acknowledging and legalizing this mode of transport. Legalization carries with it accountability, and established parameters for the safe, efficient and fair conveyance of passengers.
Let the pilot test bring out the issues that must be addressed. It’s yet another cry from the hapless commuter, and the government has no choice but to respond in the name of public service.