Motorcycle Taxi Workers Seek Dialogue to Scrap New Fleet Cap

Motorcycle taxi workers in the Philippines are urging for a dialogue with President Marcos and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to discuss the scrapping of new regulations that they believe will limit their earnings. The Nexus Riders Alliance, a group representing motorcycle-for-hire workers, stated that they are seeking a meeting with the President and acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez to address the new capping system. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has begun accepting applications for motorcycle taxi riders, with successful applicants receiving provisional authority to operate. The board has set fleet caps in Metro Manila at 23,164 for Angkas, 15,000 for JoyRide PH, and 6,836 for Move It. This move is causing anxiety among riders, as some may lose their right to work in the industry. Nexus Riders chairman Renato Emblado expressed concern about potential job losses, asking, "If a platform could only accept a limited number of riders, where would those not included in the allocation go?" Emblado also questioned the prohibition on multi-apping, where riders can accept bookings from different platforms to increase their income, arguing that riders should be given the opportunity to choose their platform at any time of the day, as this will force apps to improve their booking and incentive systems for competitive advantage. Emblado said that while riders support the government's push to establish a legislative framework for their industry, he told regulators to be more practical with their policies, saying the current cap fails to meet demand. Currently, the motorcycle taxi industry operates under the oversight of a technical working group led by the DOTr and LTFRB. Lawmakers have been pushing to set up a regulatory environment, but proposals have so far failed to hurdle Congress. The DOTr is cracking down on platforms exceeding their rider cap, which was exposed during the recent distribution of fuel subsidies at the height of the Middle East conflict. Commuters, for their part, have relied on motorcycle taxis for a cheaper and faster way to reach their destination in the metro, but worries on safety and security are mounting in light of reports of road accidents. Information Source: Philstar Business