MOTORCYCLE taxi platform Move It has filed a motion for reconsideration after receiving the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) preliminary decision imposing a penalty of P555.75 million for overshooting its rider allocation.
In a statement, Move It said it had thoroughly reviewed the decision and its implications for the industry, and is engaging with LTFRB through proper processes.
“We respect the board’s authority, and we remain committed to working toward a sustainable and adaptive regulatory framework for motorcycle taxis,” the company said.
The LTFRB, now under the acting leadership of Greg Pua Jr., slapped Move It with a P555.75-million fine over “ghost riders” that exceeded its authorized allocation.
In its Oct. 9 decision, the agency found that Move It had 73,321 active riders on its platform against an authorized allocation of only 17,746 — an excess of 55,575 riders.
But in the same statement, Move It clarified its position, describing rider allocation as a dynamic measure of live, on-demand supply.
The gig economy is built on flexibility, with riders going online and offline throughout the day based on their own schedules, it noted.
“Because of this natural fluidity, maintaining continuous supply for commuters means monitoring the number of riders who are actively online and ready to accept trips at any given moment, especially during peak rush hours,” the company said.
Addressing its rider-partners, it reiterated that it would continue to work closely with the LTFRB and other regulators to protect their livelihood.
“To commuters, the platform acknowledged how much they rely on its services, especially with the holiday rush approaching, and committed to working with regulators to ensure continued service when needed most,” Move It said.
It added that it would await the LTFRB’s review of its motion for reconsideration.
Pua said the LTFRB is drafting measures to deal with the issue in relation to the affected riders while ensuring that the online boarding system of ride-hailing services is strictly complying with the government’s regulations.
“What the agency is focused on is addressing the plight of the thousands of overboarded riders who invested their own resources to earn a decent living — and whose only fault was that they acted in good faith and trusted that they were allowed to operate under the existing rules and regulations,” he said.