SENATOR Grace Poe on Tuesday has called on lawmakers to fast-track the passage of the proposed motorcycle-for-hire law, citing the service as a “more affordable, faster, convenient, and practical option” for commuters battling the country’s traffic challenges.
“The motorcycle-for-hire bill has been through the long and winding road to passage. Our tank is full,” Poe said during the hearing of the Senate committee on public services.
“It is now time to start our engines and put our years of work into motion,” she added.
Poe highlighted the findings from a Department of Transportation (DOTr) pilot study on motorcycle taxis, emphasizing its importance in shaping the proposed policy.
“The pilot study is the strength of this policy. It gave us the opportunity to address implementation gaps and improve its regulation once legalized,” Poe said, noting that they have gathered enough data to draft a regulatory framework that is dynamic and responsive to the needs of the commuting public and industry stakeholders.
The senator stressed that legalizing motorcycle taxis is not just practical but necessary to address commuting challenges such as traffic congestion, disconnected transport systems, long lines, and inadequate public transport in many areas.
“We need to legalize to reflect the reality on the ground,” Poe said, urging her colleagues to act swiftly.
