The Philippine Department of Transportation (DoTr) said on Thursday it will work with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to review the existing rider cap allocation for motorcycle taxi providers.

"We will have a meeting with the LTFRB to assess the supply and demand situation for this service. We need to assess how many should really be allocated for Metro Manila and other areas," Transportation Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon told reporters.

The announcement came after the LTFRB imposed a P555-million fine on ride-hailing platform Move It for exceeding its rider cap allocation. In a statement, the regulator said it investigated the motorcycle taxi platform over allegations that it had onboarded more riders in its online system than its allowable cap. Move It has appealed the decision.

Mr. Dizon said the agency will review existing regulations to ensure that the number of fleets is enough for commuters. The DoTr also reminded transport providers to comply with existing regulations and measures governing the sector. Because the cap determines how many riders each accredited platform can onboard, any adjustment to the allocation directly shapes service capacity for commuters in Metro Manila and other areas.

Motorcycle taxi ride-hailing in the Philippines operates under a government pilot program first launched in 2019. Three platforms — Angkas, JoyRide and Move It — have been accredited under the program, which has been extended repeatedly while Congress weighs legislation to permanently legalize the service. Move It was acquired by superapp Grab in 2023. As the Move It case shows, the caps are being actively enforced while the sector continues to operate under this temporary framework.

Separately, the Coalition of Filipino Commuters said the motorcycle taxi cap should be removed and that rider allocation should instead be based on actual commuter demand.

"The current limits were set before the pandemic and no longer reflect conditions on the ground, where public transport in Metro Manila remains scarce," the group said.

The coalition argued that capping the number of riders will not address the shortage of public transport.

"They shrink service availability, lengthen waiting times and leave commuters stranded at the curb. We recognize that the regulation matters but service reliability should be non-negotiable," it said.

Attention will now turn to the DoTr-LTFRB meeting on supply and demand, the outcome of Move It's appeal, and whether Congress moves to permanently legalize the service — the developments that will shape how rider allocations are set for the country's three accredited motorcycle taxi platforms.

— Ashley Erika O. Jose, BusinessWorld