THE House of Representatives has vowed to pass the long-delayed Motorcycle (MC) Taxi law in the 20th Congress.
During Wednesday’s hearing of the Legislative Energy Action Development (LEAD) Joint Committee, senior lawmakers committed to deliver the legal framework for MC taxis and transport network vehicle services (TNVS).
The committee is tackling the impact of rising fuel prices on key sectors, including transportation workers.
LEAD Committee presiding officer and House Committee on Ways and Means chairman Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo said the push to institutionalize MC taxis and TNVS is part of a broader effort to provide structural, long-term solutions rather than short-term aid to sectors hit hardest by the fuel crisis.
Quimbo gave assurances that the Taxi law will be completed under the directive of Speaker Faustino Dy III.
He said with Committee on Transportation chairman Quezon City Rep. Franz Pumaren present, the passage of the twin measures would be a defining test of House leadership.
Pumaren echoed the assurance. “As chairman of the Committee on Transportation, I will give my full assurance that this will pass in this Congress,” he said.
The assurances came after MC Taxi leader Romeo Maglunsod appealed to lawmakers to pass the measure after years of delay.
Maglunsod said the measure has been repeatedly stalled despite being taken up since the 17th Congress, leaving more than 200,000 riders in legal uncertainty.
He said riders are not asking for dole outs, but reforms that would allow them to earn fairly, citing the need to lower fuel costs, reduce platform commissions and establish a stable regulatory environment.
Maglunsod also highlighted the riders’ lack of access to basic social protections such as SSS, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth.
The measure seeks to recognize and regulate MC taxis as a legitimate mode of public transport, setting standards for accreditation, safety, fares, insurance and working conditions.
Quimbo also appealed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to convince TNVS and MC Taxi operators to temporarily lower their premiums and commissions to ease the burden of partner drivers amid the oil crisis.
“Use your power, use your sphere of influence to convince these [operators] to lower their premiums, their commissions,” Quimbo said.
