A group of Move It motorcycle taxi riders staged a protest in front of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office on Friday morning, in response to the agency’s recent directive to reduce the operational fleet of the Transport Network Company (TNC).
According to a report by Val Gonzales, around 100 riders gathered outside the LTFRB office on East Avenue, Quezon City, expressing concern that 14,000 of their fellow riders are at risk of losing their livelihood.
"Hindi ko alam kung bakit, baka may nakikinabang sa inyo at nagpa-plastikan lang tayo dito. Kami lang lagi ang maaapi," said Romeo Maglunsod, leader of the Move It Community Alliance.
It may be recalled that the LTFRB recently slashed the rider cap of motorcycle taxi company Move It in Metro Manila to 6,836, down from the previous 14,000.
In an order signed by LTFRB Chairman Teofilo E. Guadiz III, the agency also ordered Move It to cease operations in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, citing that the company has not received approval from the Technical Working Group (TWG) to operate in these areas.
The LTFRB further stated that Move It was found to have exceeded its authorized rider cap and failed to meet mandatory reporting requirements regarding rider activation, deactivation, and reactivation, as mandated under the motorcycle taxi pilot program.
Meanwhile, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon earlier said that the LTFRB’s decision will not be implemented while they review the TNC's motion for reconsideration.
Maglunsod urged both the DOTr and LTFRB to issue their commitments in writing to ensure that riders will not lose their jobs.
