50% income loss due to competition from MC Taxis, says transport group
Here in the Philippines, public transport is one of the worst in the world and oftentimes unreliable. Commuters wake up very early to catch the train and many of them still end up being late for work because of the long queues at jeepney terminals and train stations. There are also times that drivers are rude to their passengers and cut trips because of traffic, leaving passengers no choice but to walk (until they find another jeepney) under the scorching sun.
When motorcycle taxis (MC taxi) were introduced not too long ago, commuters were given an alternative to their daily commute, not to mention faster commutes because motorcycles – by design – can easily weave in and out of traffic gridlocks.
It is for this reason that more and more commuters are starting to patronize MC taxis over the traditional jeepney, bus, UV Express, etc.
Now, a transport group says that their members’ income has been slashed by half because of competition from MC taxis. They are now appealing to President, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., to regulate and stop the proliferation of MC taxis nationwide.
“The number of motorcycle taxis continues to surge not just in Metro Manila, but also in other major cities. The effect of this greatly affects the income of our drivers and operators,” says Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP) president, Boy Vargas.
Vargas has also called on House Speaker Martin Romualdez, to check on the status of the MC Taxi Pilot Study, which its Technical Working Group (TWG) has yet to submit its recommendations to lawmakers to aid in legislation. The MC Pilot Study was restarted in 2020.
“If motorcycle taxis are still undergoing pilot study, why does it seem that their numbers are uncontrollable? If it’s still being studied, there should be control in the number of motorcycle taxis,” added Vargas.
