MRO wants answers on alleged Motorcycle Taxi rule violations of operators
The Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO) is asking the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to disclose the status of investigations into alleged violations involving Motorcycle Taxi Platform Providers (MTPPs).
In an open letter addressed to the LTFRB, MRO questioned what happened to cases involving alleged unauthorized rider onboarding, prescribed rider caps and other compliance requirements under the motorcycle taxi pilot program.
The group said the pilot program was established with specific rider limits, accreditation requirements and operating conditions that are supposed to be monitored and enforced by the government.
MRO said authorities have previously discussed violations in the sector and committed to addressing unauthorized or “colorum” riders and imposing sanctions when warranted.
Also, among the questions raised by MRO are if or when the sanctions have been imposed, if operators were ordered to correct their rider numbers, and what action was taken on documented violations.
The organization also raised concerns about alleged discrepancies in rider lists submitted by MTPPs.
MRO cited a discussion earlier this year involving the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which it said raised concerns about the classification of motorcycle taxi riders in submitted lists and riders who may have exceeded operational quotas under the regulatory framework.
According to MRO, the LTFRB has previously acknowledged that onboarding colorum motorcycle taxi riders is prohibited and constitutes a violation of existing regulations.
The group also wants the LTFRB to clarify what will happen to riders who may have been onboarded outside the authorized framework. MRO said many motorcycle taxi riders have invested in motorcycles, licenses, riding gear and other expenses after being onboarded by platforms they believed were operating within the government’s regulatory framework.
The organization is calling for consistent enforcement of the rules across motorcycle taxi operators, saying the same standards should apply to all participants in the pilot.
The motorcycle taxi sector remains under a government pilot framework with prescribed rider limits, accreditation requirements and operating conditions.
