Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Study Pushes Through With Increased Rider Cap, Expansion of Coverage to Cagayan De Oro City

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Motorcycle Taxi Service Inter-Agency Technical Working Group (TWG), after talks with the participating motorcycle transport network companies (TNCs) and stakeholders, has moved to increase the rider cap and expand the pilot study's coverage area following the decision to push through with the Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Study.

This was announced during the deliberations held at the House of Representatives, led by House Committee on Transportation Chairperson Edgar Sarmiento today, 22 January 2020.

Present in the hearing were members of the house panel; the TWG, headed by Chairman Antonio Gardiola Jr.; and representatives from the three motorcycle ride-hailing services, Angkas, Move It, and JoyRide.

During the session, several agreements were identified for implementation of the Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Study.

First, the rider cap for the study will be increased to 63,000. The three motorcycle transport network companies (TNCs) participating in the study will each have 15,000 riders for their Metro Manila operations under the new cap; 9,000 for their operations in Metro Cebu; and an additional 9,000 for Cagayan de Oro City, the new coverage area for motorcycle taxis operations.

However, should a TNC fails to fill-up its alloted number of riders under the cap, the other players can have the available slots.

The House Committee on Transportation also announced the continuous formation of the TWG in the 3-month extension of the motorcycle-taxi pilot study, which will run until 23 March 2020.

Further, Angkas has agreed to drop all court cases it had filed against the TWG. Angkas had filed the cases against the TWG as it questioned the Revised Guidelines issued by the TWG to limit its rider cap.

As penalty, Angkas has committed to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade that it will be aiding victims of the Taal Volcano eruption.

Secretary Tugade and representatives from the three motorcycle TNCs met on Tuesday to thresh out various issues with regard to the implementation of the pilot study, after the TWG had announced that it is recommending the termination of the study.

“We all come here today to agree to stand together in a platform of unity, mutual support and cooperation for the interest of the riding public, as a manifestation of our full trust and confidence to the Duterte administration.

We need to understand that if we go against each other, and if we do not cooperate, people who have malicious intentions and questionable agenda will be feasting on us. Let us show them that we can join hands— that we can cooperate and agree,” Secretary Tugade said.

Meanwhile, TWG Chairman Gardiola also assured of cooperation between the government and the participating motorcycle TNCs in the conduct of the pilot study.

“Our foremost concern and should also be the stakeholders’ utmost priority is the safety and protection of public interest. Let us now close the book of animosity and work together to serve the people we care about,” Chairman Gardiola said.

Why I Feel Motorcycle Taxis are More Dangerous to Transport Passengers

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Don't hate me for standing up for what I believe in. I believe I am fighting a battle less fought of by those looking for a quick way out of this existence they believe is so miserable.

One thing is clear, my intention will always be for the greater good. I may be wrong but at least I try to get involved and offer a solution.

Each day always has a surprising challenge unfolding to make up our epic story. We should all be grateful for the opportunities....and wary of those who want to take advantage of our confused state.

Ewan ko ba kung bakit ipinagpipilitan ng iba ang MC Taxis eh very risky compared to 4-wheeled alternatives.

Mas gugustuhin ko pang ma- late sa trabaho, than to risk myself from injury or death that are greater to happen when riding MC Taxis.

Mamamatay ka kung oras mo na kahit saan ka man sumakay? Pwede, pero tanga ka kung hindi ka magkukusang mag-ingat.

Kung talagang maraming apektado, yung mismong employer ang mag-aadjust dahil wala siyang magiging tao sa trabaho. Pero kung iilan lang kayo, it should mean you should find other ways to get to work, or find another job.

Ang daming solusyon. Sabi nga nila, kung gusto ay may paraan, kung ayaw ay maraming dahilan.

Stop claiming MC Taxis are the best and only solution. You are not the expert. The people at DOTr are supposedly the experts here. It's their job to study and work on this.

Lahat tayo nahihirapan with the traffic and transport problem, even car owners, but it doesn't mean we should "Kapit sa Patalim" just to get what we want.

I am comparing with regards to safety only. Where are we safer to ride? 4-wheeled or 2-wheeled taxis?

Let us not wait for accidents to happen when we can avoid them. The proliferation of MC Taxis is just like a volcano waiting to explode. We don't know when, but it will  most probably kill us if it does.

Yun na nga, mismong DOTr hindi maiayos, tayo pa kaya?

Do we really need data to know where we are safer?  As a passenger, is it safer inside a vehicle, or exposed to the elements and everything else as a backrider? This is about the safety of the passengers. I am just being concerned about the safety of our riding public as I've seen so many accidents involving or caused by riders...What more if they are carrying passengers.

Data will also show that accidents often happen on the road than by plane. But we are sure that if a plane does crash, our chances of survival is minimal.

OK, maybe I feel safer when I am enclosed in a car that seems like my armor everytime I go out on the road.

I just want others to be safer too.

But then again, somebody had these to say:


1. There are 1.5 million 4 wheeled vehicles in the PH and 14 million motorcycles.
2. DoTr is supposedly the expert and their supposed to regulate and come up with solutions. Have you seen our traffic conditions? Do you think they're doing a good job?
3. Shit trickles down. That means companies, employers will always pass the hassle down to the people on the lowest level. Sad but true.
4. Motorcycle taxis are efficient and safe. Angkas have a 99% safety record. There are hundred more reasons why MC's should be legalized but ayaw ko maging novela 📖 itong reply.


What I have to say:

Employers will adjust. Haven't you heard of flexible hours? They can't operate if noone will be there.

Other better solutions:

2. Develop an app and convert existing taxis into something similar to Grab Share carpooling. 4-wheels can transport more people. 4-wheels again are safer. Give taxi operators the option to compete with Grab, if other players wont dare compete.

3. Employers provide shuttles/vans for carpool. We did that with DSWD and other government agencies.

4. Employers hire people living within their city to avoid traveling great distances. Muntinlupa gives benefits to businesses that does this so their employees wont have the burden of traveling long hours after office.

5. Work at home. Though many could still not do this because of the nature of their work, a lot of tasks at every work environment can be done through online reducing head count. It is just a matter of time when everything else will follow. Don't worry about losing jobs because new ones will be available.

6. A lot more. I could write a book about this...and many of these are already being done. Just have patience.

Needless to say, we will adjust and evolve because of our needs. Employers and employees will find better solutions. Risking our safety should be discouraged. MC Taxis should be frowned upon.

If your employer is not doing something then that is probably because only a small number of his manpower is affected.

BTW, I've tried MC Taxis several times so I've personally witnessed how dangerous it is.

I am so baffled why you believe you will lose your job just because you are late. If you are really good at work, and you are not expendable, then your boss will reconsider.

In short, we can all work around from this predicament without endangering our lives with MC Taxis....and this is the real bigger picture.

Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 4 Coming this September

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The fourth Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) will be back this September 11-17, 2020 where audiences can experience a week-long celebration of Philippine Cinema at FDCP’s annual flagship program featuring quality films with captivating storylines, set to premiere in movie theaters nationwide.

This national industry event celebration in partnership with cinemas provides an exclusive platform for Filipino filmmakers and producers, giving particular focus to independent productions. PPP allows them to showcase their unique stories with the opportunity to reach the widest audience in the country. It also provides an opportunity to showcase quality films with an elevated genre, exhibiting the versatility and ingenuity of Filipino Cinema.

Last year’s PPP concluded with an award’s night that crowned Eduardo Roy Jr.’s Lola Igna as the festival’s ‘Best Picture’ and LSS as the ‘Special Jury Prize’ winner. Lola Igna also racked in the awards for ‘Best Screenplay,’ ‘Best Musical Score.’ Its lead star Angie Ferro won the award for ‘Best Actress’. Other winners included Tyrone Acierto as ‘Best Director’ for his film Watch me Kill and Martin Del Rosario as ‘Best Actor’ for his role in The Panti Sisters.

“We are truly proud and excited to continue championing Filipino films and encouraging Filipino filmmakers to be competitive players in the industry through the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. In the past three years, we have raised immense support from our Filipino audience who have shown how eager they are to watch quality films of different genres from stories that are ours,” said FDCP Chairperson Liza Dino. “With the fourth year and the closing of the 100 Years of Philippine Cinema, PPP will continue to challenge and expand the stories and reach of our films towards a more global perspective. Especially with our next hundred years, we hope that this platform becomes integral in placing Philippine Cinema at the worldwide stage in both technical and creative and storytelling aspects,” she added.

Aside from featuring 10 full-length films, last year’s PPP also premiered short films under ‘Sine Kabataan,’ a short-film competition for young filmmakers conducted alongside the week-long festival. Kalakalaro, directed by Rodson Verr Suarez, won the ‘Best Short Film’ award for the competition.

This year’s PPP will conclude Sine Sandaan, the year-long celebration of one hundred years of Philippine cinema spearheaded by FDCP that kicked off at last year’s PPP. Under Presidential Proclamation 622, signed November 2018, FDCP was assigned to lead the centennial year celebration of Philippine cinema.