motorcycle riders

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

THE MOTORCYCLE Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA) continues to make great strides in its mission to promote shared safety on Philippine roads, successfully conducting a series of Road Safety Seminars reaching a total of 1,088 participants from various sectors including students, traffic enforcers, city employees, and motorcycle riders, just in the first half of 2025 alone.

MDPPA kicked off the year with two major engagements at the University of Makati. On February 13, 65 students from the College of Business and Financial Science and the Institute of Imaging Health Sciences joined an interactive session that combined road safety education with engaging discussions and takeaway learning materials.

Just two weeks later, on February 27, MDPPA kept the momentum going with a much larger audience of 345 attendees. Students from seven colleges and institutes at the university came together for another round of learning that reinforced the university’s commitment to holistic education and responsible citizenship.

The seminars extended beyond academic institutions. On April 25, MDPPA partnered with Dualtech Training Center Foundation Inc. to educate 155 technical-vocational students on essential safety practices, empowering them to become responsible road users in their future professions.

On May 15, MDPPA trained 139 traffic enforcers under Quezon City’s Traffic and Transport Management Department (TTMD), helping strengthen their capabilities in traffic direction, road discipline, and accident prevention.

This was followed by a Road Safety Week event on May 20, held in partnership with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) at Bulwagan Hall in Quezon City. The session provided 77 motorcycle riders with in-depth lessons on defensive riding, signage interpretation, and emotional regulation behind the wheel.

The association returned to Quezon City on May 22 for another successful seminar that welcomed 232 participants, including LGU employees and motorcycle riders, underscoring the city’s growing culture of proactive safety education.

Finally, on June 12, MDPPA continued its outreach through a collaborative seminar with the Tanay Local Government Unit. Here, 75 residents were equipped with practical safety knowledge and responsible riding habits to help foster a safer road environment in their municipality.

These efforts reflect MDPPA’s unwavering advocacy to embed safety into everyday road use. With a total of 1,088 individuals reached so far, the association is not only creating ripple effects across communities but also building a culture of shared responsibility and awareness on the road.

“Through these seminars, we are not just imparting knowledge, we are shaping a safety-first mindset that resonates with every generation of riders. MDPPA continues to evolve with the times so we can better serve the needs of today’s motorcycle community and help pave the way to a safer road environment and more responsible riders in the future,” said Road Safety Committee Chairperson, Michael Lopez.

More Road Safety Seminars are already in the pipeline for the second half of the year as MDPPA continues to champion its vision of safer journeys for all.

Lawmaker seeks to help legalize motorcycle taxis in city

MDPPA leading a safer journey for every rider – over 1,000 Filipinos making an impact for a safer road in H1 of 2025