Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative 
BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT ALLOWING AND REGULATING THE USE OF MOTORCYCLES AS 
PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 4136, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LAND TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC 
CODE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Motorcycles have emerged in the past decade as a preferred mode of private 
transportation. According to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), there are around 15 million 
motorcycles without sidecars in the country. Motorcycles also account for 40.6% of all private 
trips in Metro Manila and the adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna.  
It was only a matter of time until motorcycles were adapted as a mode of public 
transportation. The predominant example is the habal-habal- also known as skylab, which is a 
contraction of the phrase “sakay na, lab (love)”- which is found throughout the country. From 
Metro Manila to Bukidnon, the habal-habal has filled a niche in the public transport network.  
Another example is Angkas, which is a new player in the local transport network vehicle 
service (TNVS) network. Angkas has foregone cumbersome car-based services, focusing instead 
on habal-habal-type services. This has resulted in faster and cheaper rides for a loyal customer 
base of half a million per day.  
September 8, 2025
5:07 pm
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In light of these trends, the present measure seeks to legalize motorcycles for hire as a 
form of public transportation. It does so by defining motorcycles for hire as “…any two-wheeled 
motor vehicle, which transports goods and passengers on a for-hire basis, and which may utilize 
online ride-hailing or pre-arranged transportation platforms”. It also includes the same as a new 
classification of public utility vehicle under Section 7 of Republic Act No. 4136. Further, the 
present measure explicitly classifies motorcycles for-hire as common carriers. With this 
provision, motorcycles-for-hire shall observe the requisite degree of diligence in transporting 
passengers and goods. And the presumption of negligence in breach of contract shall likewise be 
applicable.  
In light of the foregoing, urgent approval of this measure is eagerly sought. 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
Representative 
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative 
BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
ALLOWING AND REGULATING THE USE OF MOTORCYCLES AS PUBLIC 
UTILITY VEHICLES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4136, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LAND TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC CODE, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section. 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known as “The Motorcycles-for-Hire Act of 
2022”. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the role of safe, reliable, and 
affordable public transportation as a means to provide the people with a rising standard of living, 
and an improved quality of life for all. Towards this end, the State hereby allows use and 
regulation of motorcycles as an alternative mode of public transportation in order to provide 
convenience and ease of commute in urban and rural areas while ensuring public safety and 
efficiency of the transport system as a whole. 
Sec. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 4136, or the “Land Transportation and Traffic 
Code” is hereby amended as follows:   
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“Section 3. Words and phrases defined.- As used in this Act:  
      “(a) “Motor Vehicle” x x x 
       x x x 
      “(m) “Tourist” x x x 
 
(N) 
MOTORCYCLES-FOR-HIRE 
– 
SHALL 
MEAN 
ANY 
TWO-WHEELED MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH IS REGISTERED WITH THE 
LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO) OR THE LAND TRANSPORTATION 
FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD (LTFRB), AS THE CASE MAY 
BE, WHICH TRANSPORTS PASSENGERS AND GOODS ON A FOR HIRE 
BASIS, 
AND 
WHICH MAY UTILIZE ONLINE RIDE HAILING OR 
PRE-ARRANGED TRANSPORTATION PLATFORMS: PROVIDED, THAT THE 
MOTORCYCLE SHALL WEIGH LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND KILOGRAMS 
(1,000 KG), CAN TRAVEL FASTER THAN FIFTY KILOMETERS PER HOUR 
(50 KM/H), AND HAS A MINIMUM ENGINE DISPLACEMENT OF 125 CUBIC 
CENTIMETERS (125 CM3) AND A BACKBONE TYPE BUILD.” 
Sec. 4. Section 7 (d) of Republic Act No. 4136 is hereby amended to read as follows:  
“Section 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) hire trucks; [and] (j) trucks owned by contractor 
and customs brokers and customs agents [.]; AND (K) MOTORCYCLES-FOR-HIRE. 
Application for registration under these classifications shall be accompanied by a 
certificate of public conveyance or a special permit issued by the LAND 
TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD [Public Services 
Commission], and motor vehicles registered under these classifications shall be subject to 
the Public Services Law, rules and regulations, as well as the provisions of this Act.  
xxx.” 
The succeeding sections shall be renumbered accordingly.  


 
Sec. 5. Liability and Diligence Required. – Motorcycles-for-hire are hereby declared as 
common carriers for purposes of determining the liability and degree of diligence that must be 
observed in the course of transporting passengers or goods, and the presumption of negligence in 
breach of contract shall likewise apply to them. 
Sec. 6. Roadworthiness of Motorcycles-for-Hire. –  The LTO and LTFRB, as the case 
may be, shall ensure the roadworthiness of motorcycles-for-hire before registration or renewal of 
registration. To further ensure safety, no modifications shall be made on motorcycles-for-hire, 
except the installation, based on safe engineering design specifications, of a motorcycle luggage 
carrier, saddlebag, step board, or foot peg and appropriate speed limiter and monitoring device.  
Sec. 7. Issuance of Driver’s License. – Pursuant to Section 23-A of Republic Act No. 
4136, as amended by Republic Act No. 10930, the LTO shall promulgate the necessary 
prerequisites and guidelines for the issuance of professional licences to the driver-applicants, 
including the theoretical and practical examinations appropriate for motorcycles for hire. The 
LTO shall also ensure the continuous safety training of licensed drivers of motorcycles-for-hire.  
Sec. 8. Fare Setting. – The LTFRB shall determine, prescribe, approve, and periodically 
review and adjust reasonable fares, rates, and other related charges for the operation of 
motorcycles for hire. The LTFRB may allow motorcycles-for-hire to choose and use online 
ride-hailing platforms or pre-arranged transportation platforms, accredited by the proper 
government agency under the applicable laws and rules and regulations: Provided, That such 
online ride-hailing platforms or pre-arranged transportation platforms shall provide a fare 
estimator that enables users to estimate the cost of a trip, and issue an electronic receipt 
afterwards.  
Sec. 9.  Prescribing of Routes. – In prescribing routes for motorcycles-for-hire, the 
Department of Transportation and the LTFRB shall give priority to higher-capacity vehicles or 
mass transit systems in accordance with route rationalization studies. Motorcycles-for-hire may 
be allowed to operate for a limited period, with a limited number of units, and in specific routes 
only, as may be determined by the DOTr and the LTFRB in coordination with concerned local 
government units: Provided, That specific routes shall not be prescribed for motorcycles-for-hire 
which utilize online ride-hailing or pre-arranged platforms.  
Sec. 10. Penalties. – The operations of motorcycles-for-hire in violation of this Act shall 
be penalized pursuant to the violations and applicable fines and penalties provided under existing 
laws and agency regulations: Provided, That companies or officers or directors thereof, providing 
online ride-hailing or pre-arranged transportation platforms involving motorcycles without a 
valid franchise, shall have solidary liability and shall be penalized accordingly. 


Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DOTr, LTO, and LTFRB, in 
coordination with the Metro Manila Development Authority, Department of Interior and Local 
Government, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, Department of Health, and other 
agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations 
(IRR) within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act. 
The IRR shall include, among others, the limitation on the number of riders and weight or 
load capacity that can be certified as safe by the manufacturers, which shall be indicated on the 
motorcycles; the applicable speed limits; the road safety and traffic laws and regulations that 
need to be complied with; the necessary insurance policy covering the driver, rider, and third 
parties, including extent of liability; and other requirements for the safety, security, and health of 
the driver and rider, which shall include a zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol policy. 
Sec. 12. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid, the 
remaining provisions shall remain valid and in effect.  
Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive issuances, rules, and 
regulations contrary or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly.  
Sec. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the 
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
​
 
Approved, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
Representative 
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List