COUNCILOR Jose Mari Baluran will lobby to amend the ordinance for motorcycle taxis in the city to become fully operational and legal.
During his privilege speech in the regular session on Aug 19, Baluran said the amendment is crucial due to the scarcity of public transport vehicles, especially in poor weather conditions.
“Just recently, due to underlying bad weather conditions that Davao City had experienced, thousands of public commuters had been stranded for a long period of time, until 10 in the evening, and were still waiting for a ride,” Baluran said.
“This pitiful situation has already become a normal scenario even in good days, considering the scarcity of public transport vehicles plying our streets nowadays,” he added.
He cited streets such as Roxas Avenue, JP Laurel, San Pedro, and Matina, where commuters risk injuries as they race toward a passenger vehicle.
The use of motorcycle taxis, he said, should be taken advantage of as an alternative mode of transportation.
“There is a loophole in the existing ordinance that needs to be amended for its proper implementation,” Baluran told reporters in an interview after the session.
To note, the City Ordinance No. 0584-21, otherwise known as “An ordinance allowing the operation of motorcycle taxis in Davao City,” authored by Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, was approved in the 19th City Council and enacted on May 11, 2021.
Baluran said despite the existence of the ordinance, his office received complaints from motorcycle taxi companies after they were apprehended by traffic personnel.
The motion was referred to the committee on transportation and communications and the committee on rules, privileges, laws, and ordinances.
Last March 4, 2025, the 20th City Council transmitted a resolution to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) XI to include the city in the implementation of the motorcycle taxi pilot study program. To date, only Metro Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro are included in the pilot, the very reason why partner riders of motorcycle-hailing apps are apprehended.
Resolution No. 04103-25, “A Resolution Requesting the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board National Office (LTFRB), thru LTFRB Regional XI aims to include Davao City in the Implementation of the Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Study Program and be Given a Pilot Testing Provisional Operation Permit” was approved by the Council on Feb. 11, 2025.
Photo courtesy of RideIt Davao Facebook page
