Govt urged to reconsider cut on motorcycle taxi fleet

MANILA, Philippines — A consumer advocacy group called on the government to reconsider its plan to slash the motorcycle taxi fleet of Move It, warning that the move could worsen the daily ordeal of thousands of Filipino commuters and strip thousands of riders of their livelihoods.

The group Malayang Konsyumer urged the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group (MCT-TWG) to prioritize the interests of the riding public as it deliberates on Move It’s pending appeal against an April 2025 directive ordering the removal of 14,000 riders from Metro Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro.

“The hardships that commuters face every day due to insufficient public transportation will definitely be worsened by the order to remove 14,000 riders of Move It,” said Mark Jansen Magsano, the group’s convenor.

Instead of addressing persistent transportation woes, the government appears to be aggravating them, he said.

“Instead of solving this problem and other issues in public transportation that make life difficult for commuters, it seems the government wants to worsen and add to the burdens of Filipinos,” Magsano said.

Move It, one of the few accredited motorcycle taxi platforms in the country, has claimed that the government’s order was issued without due process and relied on outdated data. Two major rider groups appealed to the MCT-TWG to reconsider the reduction, citing the severe impact on both commuters and drivers.

“The concerned government agency should think of the plight of the commuters. This isn’t just a matter of compliance,” said Magsano, who emphasized that riders, many of whom are family breadwinners, face job loss if the cuts proceed.

“They are earning an honest living, and now they risk being added to the growing number of unemployed in our country,” he added.

Magsano also painted a bleak picture for commuters who already endure long queues, delayed rides, and crowded terminals.

“Isn’t their daily struggle enough — the long lines, the race to catch a ride to work and back home to their families? Is the government truly trying to make the lives of Filipinos better?”

In its April directive, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ordered Move It to stop onboarding new riders for one year and submit a verified list of its active riders within 30 days. The board also emphasized the need for stricter transparency and oversight through the MCT-TWG.

According to LTFRB records, Move It had exceeded its approved rider allocation by nearly 8,000 units. The board warned that failure to comply with the directive could result in the suspension or outright revocation of the company's authority to operate.

The MCT-TWG has yet to decide on Move It’s motion for reconsideration and supplemental appeal.