Antipolo City 2nd Rep. Romeo Acop (PPAB)

House Committee on Transportation Chairman Rep. Romeo Acop has castigated Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III for its protracted pilot study on motorcycle taxis, which has allegedly created a "monopoly of three". 

"What you are doing is you are arrogating unto yourself the power of Congress to grant franchises," a visibly angry Acop told Guadiz during the motu proprio hearing Tuesday, Aug. 8 on the pilot study, which is now on its fourth year. 

Motorcycle-for-hire or motorcycle taxis have only been allowed to operate in the Philippines by virtue of the LTFRB's pilot study. 

Only three companies are covered by the study: Angkas, Joyride, and Grab Philippines' Move It. 

"Parang nagkakaroon na ng monopoly yung tatlo (It's as if the three companies have a monopoly), excluding the other participants that want to participate sa pilot study program," he said.

Acop became irked when, during the hearing, Guadiz said that the study had already been "accomplished". 

"We already submitted the report to your Committee. So I believe it is within your power now to tell us whether to proceed further with the study or not. So we await for your final determination, Mr. Chair," he said. 

Acop, Antipolo City's 2nd district congressman, said it doesn't work that way. 

"Why don't you make a report to the House that your study was already terminated and you are coming up with your final report to this committee? Kasi inaantay niyo na kami yung magsabing itigil niyo na eh (Because you're waiting for us to tell you to stop it). Which is wrong," he said. 

Adding insult for Acop and the rest of the House panel was the LTFRB chief's obliging attitude toward two senators, who had reportedly requested to have the pilot study extended. 

SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who himself couldn't make sense of the lengthy study period, asked Guadiz to identify the two senators. The latter say they were Senators Grace Poe and Raffy Tulfo. 

On paper, House members and senators are equal as lawmakers. Congress, which is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, have yet to legislate a measure regulating motorcycle-for-hire services. 

The LTFRB study, which covers 45,000 riders, is supposed to help expedite such legislation. It was launched in 2019. 

"Pursuant to all the records here that I've seen, sinabi niyo na noon pa, hanggang 2021 lang yung pilot study ninyo eh (you said before that the pilot study would only last until 2021)," noted Acop, a former police brigadier general. 

He said that LTFRB, through its Memorandum Circular 2023-004, lifted the limits as to the duration of the study. "So parang nagkakaroon na sila (motorcycle taxi companies) ng franchise na mag-operate (So it's as if the motorcycle taxi companies gained a franchise to operate). Because there's no limit anymore." 

Guadiz repeatedly told solons in the hearing that he has only been LTFRB chief for three months.