LTFRB, city to apprehend motorcycle angkas, taxi indrive for lack of permite
Motorcycle riders operating as public transport vehicles called “angkas” including the InDive application being used by taxi to get passengers similar to Grab, are not allowed to operate for lack of mandatory permit to operate according to the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Cordillera.
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong asked LTFRB Cordillera Regional Director Lalaine Sobremonte to take action on the issue of motorcycle angkas and the ‘highest bidder scheme’ of InDrive taxi app.
In her reply to the mayor, Sobremonte said the motorcycle angkas are not safe especially with Baguio’s uphill terrain.
In a Facebook post by LTFRB-CAR, the agency warns the public on the use of motorcycles operating as public utility vehicles in Baguio City.
“At present, there is no law allowing motorcycle taxis to ply the streets and carry commuters. Motorcycle taxis have yet to be officially legalized as a form of public transportation and are currently operating under a pilot study in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. To date, there are no authorized motorcycle taxi operators in the city of Baguio,” the LTFRB-CAR post reads.
“The riding public is urged to refrain from patronizing any individual and company providing motorcycle-for-hire services,” the agency stated.
Sobremonte added that the agency is still waiting for the House of Representatives to pass a law amending provisions of Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
Under the said law, registered private motorcycles, scooters, or motor wheel attachments shall not be used for hire under any circumstances and shall not be used to solicit, accept, or be used to transport passengers or freight for pay.
Private vehicles do not have a certificate of public convenience required from PUVs by the LTFRB before they can operate as public utility vehicles.
Meanwhile, the LTFRB also warns the public against patronizing the InDrive taxi app and Maxim which were recently declared as colorum for offering transport network vehicle service (TNVS) without any accreditation as transport network companies (TNC).
InDrive operates in Baguio, Bacolod, Pampanga, Cebu, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro and sets fare prices through real time bidding, with passengers giving a proposed fare and the driver making a counteroffer.
The mayor ordered the apprehension of violators. – JMPS