EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. No. 3446

Introduced by Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
ALLOWING 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”

Republic Act (R.A.) No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code mandates
that motorcycles can only be registered as private vehicles or as government vehicles, but not
vehicles for hire. Under the law, motorcycles cannot be used as public utility vehicles, thus
making the operations of motorcycles-for-hire and motorcycle ride-hailing apps like Angkas
illegal.

Motorcycles, however, are a common mode of transportation in the Philippines. In
2018, Angkas had over 20,000 riders and its app got over 1 million downloads because it has
made a reputation of providing fast and reliable service.” In the recent years, motorcycles-
for-hire also known as habal-habal, have been considered as the fastest means of
transportation, particularly amidst traffic congestion in urban areas like Metro Manila. In
some rural areas, it has always been the only mode of transportation in rugged, winding and
narrow roads that cannot be negotiated by regular vehicles. Unfortunately, habal-habal is an
unregulated, illegal mode of transport and considered colorum, despite being widely used in
rural areas and increasingly in urban locales.

Perhaps, in recognition of the viability of motorcycles as a mode of public
transportation, the Department of Transportation issued General Guidelines for the Pilot
Implementation of Motorcycle Taxis in May 2019, which declares a six-month pilot run of
motorcycle taxis beginning in June 2019. The test run aims to further study the legalization
of motorcycle taxis through testing its safety and economic viability.

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ioe newsnf ngirer pe 10742 do prfe-mending-lny-fo-aliz-anghas on ama 2,209,

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With the worsening traffic situation coupled with the lack of better options, habal-
habals became a means to ease the suffering of the riding public. This is the reason why there
is a need to allow motoreycles-for-hire to operate because they help in ferrying people.
Legalizing motorcycles-for-hire would help regulate its operations, at the same time protect
both the operator and the riding public. This move will also allow our fellow Filipinos a
decent livelihood as motoreycles-for-hire drivers or operators.

It is high time for the government to listen to the growing clamor from the commuters
and that is to legalize the operations of motoreycles-for-hire and motorcycle ride-hailing apps
like Angkas.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is



EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H. B. No. 3446

Introduced by Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
ALLOWING 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”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 4136 shall be amended to read as
follows:

“Section 3. Words and Phrases Defined. — As used in this Act:
(a)XXX
XXX
(m) XXX

“(N) PUBLIC UTILITY MOTORCYCLES - ANY TWO-
WHEELED MOTOR VEHICLE WEIGHING LESS THAN ONE
THOUSAND KILOGRAMS (1,000 KG) THAT CAN TRAVEL
FASTER THAN FIFTY KILOMETERS PER HOUR (50 KM/H)
AND HAS AN ENGINE CAPACITY OF AT LEAST ONE
HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE CUBIC CENTIMETERS (125 CM*)
SHALL BE REGISTERED WITH THE LAND
TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO) AS FOR HIRE AND MAY
BE USED AS COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TO FERRY THE
COMMUTING PASSENGERS.”

SEC. 2. Section 7 of R.A. No. 4136 shall be amended to read as follows:


warvauns

10
1
12
13
14

15
16
7

19
20

a
22
23

24
25
26

“Section 7. Registration Classification. - Every motor vehicle shall be
registered under one of the following described classifications:

(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[.|_; | AND K) PUBLIC UTILITY
MOTORCYCLES. Application for registration under these
classifications shall be accompanied by a certificate of publi
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.”

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The Secretary of Transportation
shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations for its proper implementation.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. If any part, section or provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, no other parts, sections or provisions hereof shall be affected
thereby.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or the Official
Gazette.

Approved,