NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
*s)cnnn-
Odlicfe .-••taiT
*22 SEP 19 P3 06
SENATE
S.B. No. 1528
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" AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE", AS AMENDED, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Metro Manila is one of the most traffic-congested cities in the world. It ranked 
as the 18th Worst Traffic-Congested City among 404 countries in the 2021 TomTom's 
Traffic Index. Time Lost in Rush Hour Per Year was computed at 157 hours (equivalent 
to 6 days and 13 hours) and Time Lost in Rush Hour for Every 30-Minute Trip averaged 
16 minutes in mornings and 24 minutes in evenings.
The issue of traffic goes far beyond its impact on the country's capital and is, in 
fact, a national issue. For instance, Cebu has already become as bad as Manila in terms 
of traffic congestion and Davao and Iloilo are also on their way. Several other highly 
urbanized cities outside Metro Manila are well on their way to frequent traffic jams and 
heavy road congestion.
Despite the government's lack of action, the rest of the country has recognized 
the role of motorcycles as an alternative mode of transportation. Given its low cost, the 
ownership of motorcycles across the country has been increasing. Thus, it is but natural 
for motorists to consider motorcycles-for-hire. The motorcycle ride-hailing app Angkas 
is a popular alternative to the more expensive alternatives. Grab and taxis.
The reality is that motorcycles, despite their inherent limitations and potential 
hazards, are used widely used for their affordability and their maneuverability. This is 
particularly true in developing cities like Bangkok, Jakarta, and Hanoi with yet- 
developed public transport systems, but even so in developed cities like Paris, 
California, and Melbourne. Across many transport systems around the world.


motorcycles fill a critical gap no other mode can fulfill: as a feeder service, as an end- 
to-end transport, and in some cases, as the only service capable of traversing roads.
Motorcycles-for-hire used as public utility have the added benefit of employing 
a large number of the unskilled workforce. In 2016, Angkas pioneered the motorcycle 
taxi industry and has legalized and professionalized the two-wheel transportation by 
shouldering the safety training of about 100,000 riders, of which 30% who passed the 
test have been selected for employment. Since educational attainment is not a 
qualification for Angkas drivers, this particular Transport Network Vehicle Service 
(TNVS) gives a chance and opportunity for decent and above-average means of income 
and livelihood for an urban poor class who otherwise will have to compete in a highly 
competitive formal market. There is also great potential for local motorcycle owners, 
transport cooperatives, and other groups (MODAs cf. TODAs) to organize their own 
local transport networks for profit and employment in unserved or underserved areas.
With the dawn of the digital age, the LTFRB, by virtue of a Department Order, 
now regulates TNVS for four-wheel vehicles. Yet, this does not cover the regulation of 
motorcycles being used as public utility vehicles. Even more so. Republic Act No. 4136 
does not contemplate motorcycles as public utility vehicles. Neither is there a mention 
of motorcycles used as public utility vehicles in the Local Government Code.
However, under Section 7(q) of the above-mentioned law, the Commissioner of 
Land Transportation may, in his discretion, allow the registration of motor vehicles even 
though it does 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 on this matter. By necessary implication, the DOTr through the 
Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), may also regulate such 
vehicles.
Thus, this bill intends to amend the Land Transportation and Traffic Code and 
the Local Government Code to recognize motorcycles-for-hire as public utility vehicles 
and, thus, to regulate them.
Given the abovementioned, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RCOS


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 
17
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1328
of tl)C £• ■ ■'' 'a1
72 SEP 19 P 3 36
RliCEIV t.D 3'.
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" AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE", AS AMENDED, 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.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to provide 
basic transport services to the people, and safeguarding their safety and promoting 
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 is hereby amended by adding new 
words which shall be defined as follows:
"Section 3. Words and phrases defined. - As used in this Act:
XXX


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
(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 (d) of Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and 
Traffic Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 7. Registration Classification. - Every motor vehicle shall be 
registered under one of the following described classifications:
(a) X X X
(b) X X X
(c) X X X
(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) MOTORCYCLES-FOR-HIRE. Application for registration 
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


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
ARE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS/OPERATORS OF THE MOTORCYCLE, 
THEY 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 is hereby amended 
to read as follows:
"X X X
(vi) subject to the guidelines prescribed by the [Department of 
Transportation and Communications] 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 
ARE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS/OPERATORS OF THE MOTORCYCLE, 
and grant franchises for the operation thereof within the territorial 
jurisdiction of the municipality;
X X x"
SEC. 6. Section 458 (3) (VI) of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended 
to read as follows:
"(vi) subject to the guidelines prescribed by the [Department of 
Transportation and Communications7] 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


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
and each renewal. No modification shall be made thereafter on motorcycles-for- 
hire, except the possible installation following LTO's guidelines of a luggage 
carrier, saddlebag, step board or foot peg, and an appropriate speed limiter and 
monitoring device.
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 the course of transporting goods or passengers, and 
the presumption of negligence in the 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 the Land 
Transportation and Traffic Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 10930, the LTO 
shall impose the necessary requisites for issuance of licenses to the driver 
applicants, including training theoretical and practical testing and health 
examinations. Further, safety helmets should 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 of passengers and cargo.
SEC. 11. Local Government's Duties. - The concerned local government 
unit is urged, before it could issue a franchise under this Act, to issue guidelines 
for the operation of motorcycles in their territorial jurisdiction. These guidelines 
may include, with the approval of the Department of Public Works and Highways 
(DPWH) the designation of motorcycle lanes in highways, assigned motorcycle 
parking, terminals, and such other facilities as may constitute a motorcycle-for- 
hire transport system.
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, 
executive orders. Issuances, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof, which arc contrary to and inconsistent with any provision of this 
Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected 
thereby shall remain in force and effect.


1 
SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
2 
following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a
3 
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,