(Photo courtesy of PNA)
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) assured thousands of motorcycle taxi riders affected by alleged overboarding that their welfare remains a priority as the agency continues to review the case involving a ride-hailing platform.
In a statement Tuesday, the LTFRB said it is developing measures to address the concerns of affected riders while ensuring that motorcycle taxi operators comply with government regulations.
The agency declined to disclose details of its ongoing investigation, citing the need to observe due process.
It clarified that its decision involving the motorcycle taxi platform provider is not yet final, as the company has filed a motion for reconsideration.
“What the agency is focused on is addressing the plight of the thousands of overboarded riders who invested their own resources to earn a decent living, and whose only fault was that they acted in good faith and trusted that they were allowed to operate under the existing rules and regulations,” the LTFRB said.
Overboarding occurs when a motorcycle taxi platform registers more riders than the government-imposed limit of 15,000 per operator.
The issue has raised concerns among motorcycle taxi riders who fear losing their livelihoods despite having been accepted and registered by ride-hailing platforms.
On October 23, motorcycle taxi rider groups staged a protest outside the LTFRB office, urging authorities to protect workers who could be removed from the platforms because of the alleged violations.
Motorcycle Riders Association co-convenor Jayson Luna said many affected riders were unaware that their registrations had exceeded the allowable limit.
Meanwhile, Don Pangan, secretary general of the riders’ group Kagulong (Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong), argued that responsibility should rest with the ride-hailing platforms that accepted the riders’ applications.
Both Luna and Pangan subsequently met with an LTFRB official to discuss the concerns of affected motorcycle taxi drivers.
According to Luna, the official assured them that riders would not lose their jobs once the institutionalization process for motorcycle taxi services moves forward.
The LTFRB said it is working on measures to address the issue while strengthening oversight of online rider registration systems to prevent similar violations.
The agency emphasized that ride-hailing platforms must strictly comply with existing regulations, particularly those governing the number of authorized motorcycle taxi riders.
It maintained that protecting the livelihood of riders who acted in good faith must be considered alongside the enforcement of regulatory requirements.
The LTFRB has yet to announce a final resolution on the platform’s motion for reconsideration.
