Lawmakers are pushing to finally legalize and regulate app-based motorcycle taxis such as Angkas and Move It, with a House leader vowing to pass a measure in the 20th Congress that would formally recognize the sector as part of the country’s public transport system.
House Committee on Ways and Means chair Marikina City representative Miro Quimbo said the chamber is prioritizing the passage of a Motorcycle Taxi (MC Taxi) Law that would institutionalize operations of ride-hailing motorcycle services.
The measure aims to set standards for safety, driver qualifications, and platform accountability as demand for app-based transport continues to grow.
The proposed law would effectively legitimize MC taxis as transport network services, bringing them under a clearer regulatory framework similar to other app-based mobility platforms.
It would also empower regulators to issue permits and require training and safety compliance among riders and operators.
“Basta ito ang pinapangako namin sa inyo sa harap ng ating mga kasama na sinasabi ni Speaker Bojie Dy na sa kongresong ito tatapusin natin ang batas patungkol sa MC taxi, TNVS para magkaroon na talaga ng katiyakan dyan dahil napakatagal na po nating naghahanap ng katahimikan dyan. ‘Yan po ang isang bagay na talagang itinutulak natin,” Quimbo said.
Motorcycle taxis have operated in a legal gray area since 2019, when Congress allowed a pilot run in Metro Manila and other urban centers to assess safety and viability. That pilot has been repeatedly extended, even as regulators note that no permanent law currently authorizes their operation.
App-based MC taxi platforms have since become a key part of urban mobility, particularly in congested areas where motorcycles can navigate traffic faster than four-wheeled vehicles.
Industry players argue that formalizing the sector would not only improve commuter options but also secure livelihoods for tens of thousands of riders.
Pending bills in both chambers seek to define MC taxis as a legitimate mode of public transportation, require rider training and insurance, and impose platform-level responsibilities on operators — a shift that would bring app-based services under stricter oversight while allowing them to expand operations nationwide.
Supporters of the measure say the law is needed to keep pace with the rise of digital ride-hailing platforms, which have transformed motorcycle taxis from informal “habal-habal” services into structured, app-driven transport networks.
Critics, however, have raised concerns over road safety and enforcement, issues lawmakers say the proposed law is designed to address.
The House leadership said it expects the measure to move quickly in the 20th Congress, signaling renewed efforts to end years of regulatory uncertainty for one of the country’s fastest-growing app-based transport sectors.
