THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has rejected the accreditation bids of two motorcycle taxi platform providers (MTPPs) for failing to meet required standards.
“The order expressly provides that MTPPs whose previous pilot authority lapsed, expired, or was not maintained through active participation and compliance are excluded from the coverage of the order,” Acting Chairman Greg G. Pua, Jr. said in a statement on Monday.
The Transportation department through LTFRB said it has denied the application of GrabBike and RiderKo which were earlier granted authority to operate for the pilot implementation of the motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila and nearby areas, it said.
Mr. Pua said that under the LTFRB’s review, the two providers failed to meet the conditions set during the period of authority given to the two firms.
For instance, the LTFRB said the providers failed to prove continued operation of motorcycle taxi service, active participation, and compliance with the pilot study.
“For this reason, the board is constrained to deny your application for accreditation as a Motorcycle Taxi Platform Provider,” the LTFRB said in its letter to the two companies.
In 2019, the Transportation department directed the LTFRB to form a technical working group to oversee the rollout of motorcycle taxi services. The study will generate recommendations on safety, security, franchising, and regulatory procedures.
Separately, the LTFRB said on Monday that it has started preparing the feasibility study on the proposed special bus routes along the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2).
“The initial information that we have is the significant increase of passengers of the LRT-2 especially during rush hours in the morning and the afternoon. Our goal is to come up with new routes that will serve as alternative modes of transportation for the passengers,” he said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose