MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers are pushing for the swift passage of a bill to legalize and regulate motorcycles-for-hire, aiming to establish them as a safe and viable mode of public transportation in the country.

“The motorcycle-for-hire bill has been through the long and winding road to passage. Our tank is full,” Sen. Grace Poe said during a Senate Committee on Public Services hearing Tuesday. 

The pilot study conducted by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on the viability of motorcycle taxis was cited as a strong basis for crafting legislation.

“The pilot study is the strength of this policy. May pagkakataon tayong matugunan ang implementation gaps to improve its regulation once legalized,” the senator said. 

There are currently no laws regulating motorcycle-for-hire in the country, as they are operating under a pilot program launched in 2019.

“But I think we can all agree that we have gathered enough data to craft a regulatory framework that is dynamic and responsive to the needs of the commuting public and the industry stakeholders,” she said.

The senator noted that the five-year pilot study provided extensive data and reflected commuter support for permanently integrating motorcycles into the public transportation system.

The pilot study data showed that there are 45,000 motorcycles currently operating in Metro Manila.

“The failure of our transportation system to address mobility challenges led to the unprecedented growth of motorcycles-for-hire,” the lawmaker said.

“Traffic, masikip na kalsada, hindi interconnected na transportation systems, mahabang pila at waiting time sa mga terminal, malayong sakayan at kawalan ng pampublikong transportasyon sa ibang lugar at ruta—these situations make riding a motorcycle for transportation a more affordable, faster, convenient, and practical option,” she said.

With the rapid expansion of the sector, the senator noted the importance of institutionalizing a regulatory framework for motorcycle-for-hire operations.

“It is not only a necessity, but an imperative to institutionalize a regulatory framework governing motorcycle-for-hire operations,” the senator said.

“We need to legalize to reflect the reality on the ground. In doing so, we are also uplifting a segment of our society and transforming them into formalized, professional drivers with income and welfare benefits, whether as permanent or part-time riders,” she said.

In 2024, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported that Filipinos are purchasing up to 8,000 new motorcycles daily, with 40 percent of them ending up on Metro Manila’s streets. This amounts to an additional 160,000 motorcycles per month, according to LTO Chief Asec. Vigor Mendoza II.