TRANSPORT Secretary
times to discuss the ao-
Arthur Tugade's receni
initiatives f or the assess-
ment of motorcycle laxi
operations in the coun-
try ahead of its legaliza-
tion and regulation have
eamed praise ftom gov-
emment official8, trans-
Poltadvocates,commut-
ers, and motorcycle rid-
ets.
Earning the monicker
"Mr. Transpormer" from
transport groups for his
Positive tlansf ormation
initiatives in the local
hansport sector, Sec. Tu-
gade earlier issued the
directive to create a tech-
nical working group
(TWG) to discuss issues
inrelation to theprospect
of motorcycle taxis oper-
ating as public transport.
"Secretary Tugade's
creation of a technical
working group is an im-
porta nt step in sol ving an
issue that's been plagu-
rng thecounky loryears/"
Rep. Winnie Castelo said,
"I'mpleasedwiththiskind
of decisive leadershiD
ftom the DOTr and it
shows they ale sensitive
to the neehs of the peo-
ple," he added.
Rep. Castelo is the
chairman of the House
Comrnittee on MehoMa-
nil a Development. He has
called severil hearings on
motorcycle taxi regul;tion
inMetroManila.
Seeing the publicclam- propriate standards arid
or on the legalization andiapicities of motorcycles
rcgulation of motorcycle foi public transportition
taxrs, I ransporL Secretary service, including deter-
Arthur Tu_gade ea ruer is- mining thepiopei type of
sued the directive to cre- motoriycki th;t c;l be
ate the IWC to discuss granted a franchise, the
issues in relation to the minimum Cubic Centi-
prospect of motorcycle meter (CC) ca pacitv of the
taxis operating as public molor, travei spied of
kansport. motorcyde taxis,ftanchise
"We attheDOTIknow route, i'eat and helmet re-
how lo listen. So even if quirements, and traiJring
the 5C has yet to issue a requirements for motor--
final ruJing, we already cvile bikerslooking to reg-
formed a IWG to studv iiter as a Public"UtilH'
lhe prospect of motorcf- Vetucle driver. The TWd
cles serving as-public also discussed regulato-
transportation." Sec. fu- ry concerns on actount-
gade said in an earlier abjlityforpassengersaJe-
news report. ty in the event of an acci-
The TWC is headed bv dent.
Undersecretary Mark d'e On their second meet-
Leon and was comprised ing, the TWG did an on-
of other representatit.<is sitF observation of Ang-
from the DOTr, Land kas touted safew traii-
fransportation Otfice iJlg program thafhas re-
(LTO_), LandTransporta- sultid ii theh high safety
tion Franchising and Reg- standards.
ulatory Board-(LTFRB), After the thnee meet-
Philippine National Police ings, the TWC proposed
- Highway Patrol Grotrp toionduct a teit run for
(PNP-HPG), Metro Mj- motor( ycle taxis ahead of
nila. Der elopment Au- thei! p;opos€d legaliza-
thority (MMDA),g'enate, tion a;d iesulatio-n. The
Howeof Represenenives) -proposal is- stilJ up for
commuter welfare sec. Tugade,s approval.
groups, road sajety ad- Und"ersecreiiry de
locates, motorcyclehan- Leon said that the niotor-
uJacturers, motorcycleor- cycle taxi proposed pilot
gan,z-atrons, and law run is partoftheeffortsof
schools. the TWG to assess the vi_
TheTwchasmettbree abilityofmotorcycletaxis
as ptiblic utility vehicles
as well as to test the irr-
plem en ting rules and reg_
ulations (tRR) thar tlie
group is drafting.
In an earlier meeting of
lransport secto! officials
and industry players
called by presiaentiai Ad-
viset on EnhepreneuJship
Joey Concepcion, he laud-
ed Sec. Tugade for creat-
ing theTWG. Concepcion
noled that the secretarv
has said that he is nrit
against any mode o,f
ttanspodation as long as
it is efficient, safe, and
comfortable.
Angkas head of Regu-
latory and Public Affairs
George Royeca likewaise
praised the DOTr for the
test run initiative. "We
would like to thank the
DOTi, especially Secre-
tary Tugade and Under-
secietary de I€o& for their
selfless consideration of
the plight of our commut-
els and motorcvcle rid-
ers," Royeca not"ed.