Voting 200-1 with no abstention, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 10424, which allows the operation of motorcycles as common carriers for the transportation of passengers and goods, including parcels and mail.

“The House of Representatives acknowledge that motorcycles-for-hire not just serve as an efficient alternative to mass public transportation but also a viable source of livelihood for Filipinos,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said in a statement.

“This bill aims to provide safe, sufficient, and economical mode of public transport by allowing and regulating the use of motorcycles as public utility vehicles,” he added.

HB 10424 seeks to mandate the registration of motorcycles-for-hire with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to ensure the roadworthiness of all motorcycle-for-hire before their registration, or renewal of registration.

Once enacted into law, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) would be given the power to regulate the operation of motorcycles-for-hire operating in areas where there are no operating digital platforms.

The number of routes or units that may be allowed to operate shall be in accordance with the local public transport route plan recommended by the local government unit (LGU) concerned.

The bill also sets the requirements for the grant of a franchise or issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience which include: a) Proof of Filipino citizenship, b) Financial capacity, c) LTO Certificate of Vehicle Registration, d) Insurance coverage and e) Tax Identification Number or Certificate of Registration as Common Carrier.

The proposed legislation also requires the registration of Motorcycle Taxi Platform Providers (MTPPs) and Online E-commerce Platform Providers (OEPPs) with the Securities and Exchange Commission and sets forth the minimum accreditation requirements that must be maintained by these digital platforms.

It also provides a 60 kilometers per hour (60kph) speed limit for motorcycles-for-hire.

LTFRB is also tasked to prescribe the fares, surcharges and other transportation fees that may be charged by operators, OEPPs or MTPPs for motorcycle-for-hire services. The fare structure shall be set in consultation with the motorcycles-for-hire industry and subject to the approval of the Department of Transportation.

HB 10424 also holds the operator and the MTPP or OEPP jointly and solidary liable for death, injuries, or damage to property occurring in the course of operating a motorcycle-for-hire, with rights of subrogation against any party at fault. (PNA)