Motorcycle taxi service providers like Angkas will need to acquire a resolution from Congress before they can resume operations, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has endorsed the drafting of an “appropriate Congress resolution” on resuming pilot studies on motorcycle taxis.
Roque said the “best solution” is to pass the law granting a franchise to motorcycle taxis.
Last week, Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said motorcycle taxis would not be back on the streets unless Congress passes a law granting their franchise.
The Motorcycle Taxi (MC Taxi) Technical Working Group (TWG) has completed the pilot run of MC Taxis back in March.
The Department of Transportation said it will support a Congress resolution that will serve as legal basis to allow the resumption of motorcycle taxis’ operation.
Roque also defended a new decision of the Cabinet to approve the “one-seat-apart” policy among commuters in public transport amid the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
He said the lack of public transport remains a problem for commuters who need to physically report for work.
As long as health and safety protocols are observed, Roque said commuters can prevent transmission of Covid-19.
The Cabinet also approved the recommendation to expand rail capacity to 30 to 50 percent; expand the number of provincial buses, motorcycle taxis, shuttles, and transport network vehicle service (TNVS), and accelerate use of service contracting to expand bus and jeep services.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board opened 44 additional routes of the traditional public utility jeepney (PUJs) and allowed 4,820 more traditional PUJs to ply their routes in Metro Manila.