Motorcycle taxis return
The Inter- Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has allowed the resumption of operations of motorcycle taxis after the House of Representatives approved the extension of a pilot study program.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. yesterday said the IATF
has approved the resumption of the motorcycle taxi pilot study, which would be implemented and monitored by the National Task Force Against
COVID-19 (NTF) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The House earlier urged the IATF, NTF and DOTr to extend the conduct of the motorcycle taxi pilot study program.
Roque said this would allow Singaporean- owned Angkas and JoyRide to resume operations.
Roque said the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board will be issuing the guidelines as soon as possible.
Prior to the lockdown last March, the study was launched to determine whether motorcycle taxis were OK for public transport since these are banned under Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
Sen. Grace Poe said yesterday the resumption of motorcycle taxi operations would augment public transport and ease the daily hardship of commuters, especially workers trying to make a living amid the pandemic.
Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services, however stressed the guidelines must be clear-cut and strictly adhere to health and safety protocols to ensure that riders are protected during the entire trip.
“Regular disinfection, wearing of face mask and using own helmet are among the measures that should
be complied with by the riders,” the senator said.
“Safety remains the primordial concern as motorcycle taxis return to the streets,” she said.
The DOTr is set to convene its technical working group after the IATF gave the green light to motorcycle taxis to resume operations next week.
Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran said the department is ready to comply with the decision of the Cabinet, Congress and IATF to allow the resumption of motorcycle taxi operations.
“We will be ready to implement the IATF decision anytime we receive the minimum health standards/guidelines from the NTF,” she told reporters.
Libiran noted that there are already existing guidelines in place but they still need guidance from the NTF for minimum health protocols to ensure that transmission of the coronavirus would be avoided.