TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL29 PI :05
SENATE
S.B. NO. 751
R! C: :
IE
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
RECOGNIZING MOTORCYCLES AS PUBLIC UTILITY
VEHICLES, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.
4136, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LAND TRANSPORTATION AND 
TRAFFIC CODE," AS AMENDED, AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991", AS AMENDED,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines continues to grapple with severe traffic congestion in its urban 
areas. The 2024 TomTom Traffic Index highlights the issue, with several Philippine 
cities ranking prominently among the most congested 500 cities across 62 countries. 
Davao City now stands as the 10th most congested metro area worldwide and 8th for 
city centers. Commuters in Davao City spend an average of 32 minutes and 59 seconds 
to travel 10 kilometers, leading to an estimated 136 hours lost annually during rush 
hours. Meanwhile, Metro Manila is ranked as the 15th for metro areas and 14th for city 
centers. Travelling 10 kilometers in Metro Manila takes an average of 32 minutes and 
10 seconds, resulting in commuters losing approximately 127 hours per year to rush 
hour traffic. More specifically, Caloocan, ranked 18th for metro areas, sees an average 
of 30 minutes and 44 seconds to travel 10 kilometers, causing an estimated 111 hours 
lost annually during rush hours.
In the absence of comprehensive government action, motorcycles have emerged 
as a vital alternative mode of transportation. Their affordability and manueverability 
have driven a significant increase in motorcycle ownership across the country. Thus, 
the demand for motorcycles-for-hire, facilitated by ride-hailing apps has naturally 
surged as a more accessible and cost-effective option compared to traditional taxis and 
four-wheeled ride-hailing services.
The reality is that while motorcycles present inherent limitations and potential 
hazards, their widespread use, particularly in developing cities like Bangkok, Jakarta, 
and Hanoi, highlights their indispensable role in urban mobility. Even in developed cities 
like Paris, California, and Melbourne, motorcycles fill a critical gap in public transport


systems, serving as efficient feeder services, providing essential end-to-end transport, 
and, in some cases, being the only mode capable of traversing certain roads.
Beyond their transport utiiity, motorcycies-for-hire offer significant socio­
economic benefits by creating substantiai employment opportunities for the unskiiled 
workforce. For example, Angkas which is a pioneer in the motorcycie taxi industry, 
since 2016, iegaiized and professionaiized two-wheeied pubiic transportation. As part 
of their commitment to road safety, Angkas provides formal training to motorcycle 
rides, inciuding pre-ride activities and monitoring and maintaining motorcycle 
performance. They have trained more than 200,000 riders for free, contributing to a 
reported 99.997% safety record. Since educational attainment is not a qualification for 
its drivers, this particuiar Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) sector offers a 
crucial opportunity for decent and above-average means of income and liveiihood for 
the urban poor who might otherwise face intense competition in the formal labor 
market. This aiso highlights the great potentiai for local motorcycle owners, transport 
cooperatives, and other groups (e.g., MODAs, TODAs) to organize their own locai 
transport networks for profit and empioyment in unserved or underserved areas.
Despite the rise of these vitai services, the reguiatory framework remains 
inadequate. Whiie the LTFRB, by virtue of a Department Order, now regulates four- 
wheeled TNVS, no corresponding regulation exists for of motorcycies operating as 
pubiic utility vehicles. Even more so. Republic Act No. 4136, otherwise known as the 
"Land Transportation and Traffic Code," as amended, does not contemplate 
motorcycles as public utility vehicles. Similarly, Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known 
as the "Local Government Code of 1991," as amended, makes no mention of 
motorcycles used as public utility vehicles.
Flowever, Section 7(q) of Republic Act No. 4163 grants the Commissioner of 
Land Transportation the discretion to allow the registration of motor vehicles that do 
not conform to the described regular classification provided therein. In effect, this gives 
the Department of Transportation (DOTr) the authority to classify a "special" kind of 
public utility vehicle and allow for its registration without the need for a separate 
legislation. By necessary implication, the DOTr, through the Land Transportation 
Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), may also regulate such vehicles.
Thus, this bill intends to further amend the Land Transportation and Traffic 
Code, as amended, and the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, to formally 
recognize and regulate motorcycles-for-hire as public utility vehicles and, thereby 
provide a comprehensive legal framework for their safe and effective operation. Hence, 
the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
. MARCOS ^


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
1. itH 
o! I: ;■
25 JUL 29 P1 :05
SENATE
S.B. No. 751
Ri;CEiVE D E
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
RECOGNIZING MOTORCYCLES AS PUBLIC UTILITY 
VEHICLES, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.
4136, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LAND TRANSPORTATION AND 
TRAFFIC CODE," AS AMENDED, AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991", AS AMENDED,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Motorcydes-for-Hire
Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to provide 
basic transport services to the people, and safeguard their safety and promote their 
general welfare. Toward this end, the use of motorcycles-for-hire as an alternative 
mode of public transportation is hereby recognized and regulated in order to provide 
mobility in unserved and underserved rural areas, as well as traffic congested urban 
centers
SEC. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 4136, as amended, otherwise known as 
the "Land Transportation and Traffic Code," is hereby amended as follows:
"Section 3. Words and phrases defined. - As used in this Act:


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XXX
(N) MOTORCYCLE-FOR-HIRE - ANY TWO-WHEELED MOTOR 
VEHICLE USED AS A MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND 
CARGO REGISTERED WITH THE LAND TRANPORTATION OFFICE 
OR THE LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND 
REGULATORY BOARD (LTFRB); PROVIDED, THAT FOR 
TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS, THE MOTORCYCLE SHALL HAVE 
A MINIMUM ENGINE DISPLACEMENT OF 125 CUBIC 
CENTIMETERS AND A BACKBONE TYPE BUILT.
MOTORCYCLES-FOR-HIRE MAY BE OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY 
BY THE OWNER OF THE MOTORCYCLE, OR MADE AVAILABLE 
THROUGH A NETWORK OR DIGITAL TRANSPORT VEHICLE 
SERVICE (TNVS)."
SEC. 4. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 4136 is also hereby amended to read as 
follows:
"Sec. 7. Registration Classification. - Every motor vehicle shall be 
registered under one of the following described classifications:
(a) XXX
(b) XXX 
(C) XXX
(d) Public utility automobiles; (e) public utility trucks; (f) taxis and auto- 
calesas; (g) garage automobiles; (h) garage trucks; (i) hire trucks; [and]
(j) trucks owned by contractors and customs brokers and customs agents 
[t]; and (K) MOTORCYCLES-FOR-HIRE. Application for registration


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under these classifications shall be accompanied by a certificate of public 
convenience or a special permit issued by the [Public Service 
Commission] LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND 
REGULATORY BOARD (LTFRB), and motor vehicles registered under 
these classifications shall be subject to the Public Service Law, rules and 
regulations, as well as the provisions of this Act.
FURTHER PROVIDED THAT MOTORCYCLES-FOR-HIRE 
OPERATING STRICTLY WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL 
JURISDICTION OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT, WHETHER 
THESE MOTORCYCLES BELONG TO A TRANSPORT NETWORK, OR 
ARE MEMBERS OF LOCAL COOPERATIVE OR CORPORATION, OR 
ARE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS/OPERATORS OF THE MOTORCYCLE, 
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 447 (3) (V 
I) AND SECTION 45 8 (3) (VI) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160.
xxx"
SEC. 5. Section 447 (3) (VI) of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, 
otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991," is hereby amended to 
read as follows:
"xxx
(vi) Subject to the guidelines prescribed by the [Deportment of 
Tronsportotion -and Communicotions] LTFRB, regulate the operation of 
tricycles AND MOTORCYCLES-FOR-HIRE AS PUBLIC TRANSPORT 
OPERATING STRICTLY WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL 
JURISDICTION OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT, WHETHER 
THESE MOTORCYCLES BELONG TO A TRANSPORT NETWORK, OR 
ARE MEMBERS OF LOCAL COOPERATIVE OR CORPORATION, OR


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ARE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS/OPERATORS OF THE MOTORCYCLE,
and grant franchises for the operation thereof within the territorial 
jurisdiction of the municipality;
xxx"
SEC. 6. Section 458 (3) (VI) of Republic Act No. 7160 is also hereby 
amended to read as follows:
"xxx
(vi) Subject to the guidelines prescribed by the [Department of 
Transportation and Communications,] LTFRB, regulate the operation of 
tricycles AND MOTORCYCLES AS PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATING 
STRICTLY WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF A LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNIT, WHETHER THESE MOTORCYCLES BELONG 
TO A TRANSPORT NETWORK, OR ARE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 
COOPERATIVE OR CORPORATION, OR ARE INDIVIDUAL 
OWNERS/OPERATORS OF THE MOTORCYCLE, and grant franchises 
for the operation thereof within the territorial jurisdiction of the city;
xxx
SEC. 7. Roadworthiness of Motorcydes-for-hire. - The Land 
Transportation Office (LTO) shall guarantee the roadworthiness of motorcycles- 
for-hire by requiring emission testing and other safeguards before registration 
and every renewal. No modification shall be made thereafter on motorcycles-for- 
hire, except for the possible installation of luggage carriers, saddlebags, step 
boards or foot pegs, and appropriate speed limiters and monitoring devices, based 
on LTO's guidelines.


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SEC. 8. Liability and Diligence. - Motorcycles-for-hire are hereby declared 
as common carriers for purposes of determining the liability and degree of 
diligence to be observed in transporting goods or passengers. The presumption 
of negligence in breach of contract shall likewise apply, as provided in existing 
laws, rules, and regulations.
SEC. 9. Driver's Safety. - In accordance with Section 23-A of Republic Act 
No. 4136, as amended, the LTO shall establish the necessary requirements for 
issuing driver's licenses to applicants for motorcycles-for-hire, including training 
theoretical and practical testing and health examinations. Further, safety helmets 
shall be provided as required by law.
SEC. 10. Insurance. - In addition to driver's and motor vehicle insurance, 
the LTO shall require the insurance and coverage for both passengers and cargo 
transported by motorcyles-for-hire.
SEC. 11. Local Government Units' Duties. - The concerned local 
government unit (LGU) is urged, before it could issue a franchise under this Act, 
to develop and issue guidelines for the operation of motorcycles-for-hire in their 
territorial jurisdiction. These guidelines, subject to the approval of the Department 
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), may include the designation of motorcycle 
lanes on highways, assigned motorcycle parking areas, designated terminals, and 
such other facilities as may constitute an efficient motorcycle-for-hire transport 
system.
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees or 
issuances, executive orders, proclamations, administrative orders, ordinances, 
rules or regulations, or parts thereof contrary to and inconsistent with any 
provision of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.


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SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force 
and effect.
SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a 
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,