Plaka vest on MC Taxis proposed
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has recently conducted a public consultation with the motorcycle community, which tackled issues on NCAP and MC Lane, as well as traffic enforcement and penalties.
During the discussion, the MMDA showed proposals on how to decongest the MC Lane in Commonwealth Avenue, with one cutting the existing 5-meter wide bicycle lane in half to accommodate an additional MC Lane.
Following these discussions, an MC Taxi platform has put forward a ‘plaka vest’ proposal. This system aims to identify legitimate MC Taxi riders from habal-habal riders and provide them with exclusive access to a dedicated MC Lane, particularly if the MMDA moves ahead with its plan to reconfigure the bicycle lane on Commonwealth Avenue.
Habal-habal is the colloquial term for illegal MC Taxis.
Rico Meneses, Joyride boss, said that a plaka vest that contains the rider’s ID, will serve several purposes: 1) so that platforms like them could easily identify and police unruly riders within their ranks, 2) see who’s legit, and 3) access to an exclusive, MC Taxi/courier only lane.
“Ang lahat po ng mga MC Taxi, dapat naka-uniporme, dapat naka-vest. Yung pong vest, may number…so pag binigyan na tayo ng lane, yung shared [bike] lane, kami din po mismo ipupulis din po naming ang aming grupo. Ang suggestion namin, kung sakali na may makita dun sa [MC] lane na may violation, pwede nyo [MMDA] kami sabihan para masabihan din naming yung rider… Masusuplung namin ni George [Angkas] yung mga namemeke. Nababalitaan po natin, iba’t ibang platform ginagamit ng mga salarin. Tapos, isisisi sa [MC Taxi] driver na seryoso sa pagha-hanap buhay,” said Meneses.
(All MC Taxi [riders] should be in uniform, should wear vests. The vest should have a number... so if we’re given a lane, the shared [bike] lane, we ourselves will police our own group. Our suggestion is, if you see a violation in that [MC] lane, you [MMDA] can tell us so we can also inform the rider... George [Angkas] and I can report those who are faking [their identity]. We hear reports that different platforms are being used by offenders. Then, the blame is put on the [MC Taxi] drivers who are serious about making a living.)
Meneses emphasized that the MC Taxi uniform, including the vest, has consistently been a requirement discussed during the MC Taxi Technical Working Group (TWG). He appealed to the MMDA for assistance in enforcing this existing regulation.
