THE TECHNICAL working group of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) has released the actual number of authorized drivers submitted by motorcycle taxi service providers.

Data collected by the motorcycle taxi pilot run Technical Working Group (TWG) showed that JoyRide has 6,907 authorized drivers; Angkas (DBDOYC, Inc.) has 2,204; and Move It has 1,414.

“This will therefore set the record straight in so far as compliance to the documentary and regulatory requirements of the TWG is concerned, most especially on the need to fully register and declare the names and number of contracted riders by the service providers,” it said.

On Dec. 20, the TWG decided to extend the pilot program for motorcycle taxis to March, with the addition of two new players, namely JoyRide and Move It.

The extended pilot program started Dec. 23, and will end March 23, with an overall allotted cap of 39,000 registered bikers — 10,000 bikers per operator in Metro Manila and 3,000 per operator in Cebu.

Angkas was the sole service provider in the initial six-month trial which involved 27,000 bikers. The operator warned about job losses after its number of bikers were capped.

Senator Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos said the Senate may investigate the policy.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said there were six motorcycle taxi firms that submitted their proposals to the TWG to be included in the pilot program. Four were considered, evaluated, and inspected.

The DoTr said it heard proposals from six new motorcycle taxi companies on Nov. 20, which include JoyRide and Move It, as well as Citimuber, EsetGo, Sakay, and VroomGo. — V.M.P. Galang

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