The Technical Working Group will meet to discuss the return of motorcycle taxis

The Motorcycle Taxi (MC Taxi) Technical Working Group (TWG) will be reconvening to discuss the resumption of the pilot study program that will allow them to operate once again.

This was shared by DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran recently. This news comes on the heels of the announcement from Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that the motorcycle taxi services may resume operations.

“Mabuting balita po iyan dahil pwede na naman tayong mag-Angkas and Joyride (That's good news because we can take Angkas and Joyride again),” Roque said in a news briefing.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has been discussing the resumption of the pilot study on motorcycle taxis. They’ve recently gave their blessing for it to continue amid the pandemic.

Libiran said the TWG would release an update for the return of motorcycle taxis by “early next week”. The official guidelines governing the operations of MC taxis amid the pandemic must first be published by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and other members of the TWG.

“We will be ready to implement the IATF-EID decision anytime [once] we receive the minimum health standards/guidelines from the National Task Force for Covid-19,” Libiran said.

Health experts and officials from NTF-Covid will be asked to provide “expert recommendations” as to the minimum health standards to be followed by passengers once aboard MC taxis. While in operation, the TWG will once again monitor and regulate its operations.

“Its primordial task is to ensure the safety of the riding passengers, which will also be the basis of the continuing recommendation to Congress for drafting the appropriate legislation,” Libiran said.

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