ILOILO City – Despite the rising number of motorcycle taxis operating without franchises, the city government admits it is powerless to apprehend them due to the absence of a local ordinance and clear national regulations.
“There is no existing ordinance in Iloilo City that regulates motor taxis or angkas riders,” said Iloilo City Traffic and Transportation Management Office (ICTTMO) head Uldarico Garbanzos. “The authority to regulate these vehicles lies with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).”
This legal gap leaves the city unable to act against motorcycle-for-hire units, known locally as angkas or habal-habal, even though they operate without Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approval.
Motorcycle taxis have surged in popularity in Iloilo City as an informal, fast, and affordable transport option. Most transactions happen through Facebook groups or messaging apps, making them accessible to daily commuters. Yet their unregulated nature has raised red flags over passenger safety.
“Our concern is passenger safety,” said Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Transportation.
Accidents involving these motorcycles can happen, and without regulation, no safety standards are being enforced, he said.
To address the growing public concern, the city council plans to conduct an inventory of motorcycle taxis currently operating, said Cabaluna. However, he admitted that this is only an interim measure.
“This is what we can do for now since the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has not yet issued a regulation that legalizes motorcycle taxi operations in cities like Iloilo,” he explained.
Garbanzos also stated that the city is ready to implement local regulations if the LTO issues clear operational guidelines specific to motorcycle taxis in Iloilo.
The current legal uncertainty contrasts with developments in Metro Manila, where motorcycle taxis are allowed to operate under a DOTr pilot program through accredited apps like Angkas, Joyride, Grab, and Lalamove. Iloilo City, however, is not yet covered under this initiative.
In the meantime, many riders continue to offer their services, saying this informal job is vital to their livelihood. “It’s a big help,” said one rider, who requested anonymity. “It helps us earn daily and it’s convenient for customers, especially during traffic jams or peak hours.”
The appeal of motorcycle taxis lies in their affordability and speed, and specifically getting around traffic congestion. For a four-kilometer ride, the fare is around ₱55 in this city and any additional distance cost only ₱10 more, significantly lower than traditional taxis.
“Mas dasig kag mas brato kaysa sa iban na booking transpo,” said frequent passenger Anne, who gave angkas a high rating for convenience. “You can navigate through traffic much faster because motortaxis are smaller.”
LTFRB Region 6 itself has also clarified that it has no authority over two-wheeled vehicles.
“We have no enforcement authority over two-wheelers. That’s beyond our control,” said officer-in-charge Atty. Ma. Joscet Abellar in an interview back in May.
For his part, LTFRB-6 legal counsel Atty. Salvador Altura said that while findings from the technical working group on the operation of motorcycle taxies were submitted to Congress more than a year ago, no law has since been passed./PN
