Cash aid program exposes discrepancies in motorcycle taxi driver counts

MANILA, Philippines – The government’s cash aid rollout amid rising fuel costs has exposed discrepancies between the number of motorcycle taxi drivers operating on the ground and those reported by ride-hailing firms.

Speaking before a House joint committee on Monday, April 13, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said many motorcycle taxi drivers who lined up for assistance were not included in the lists submitted by ride-hailing platforms.

After verification, Gatchalian said the drivers showed proof they were active motorcycle taxi drivers affiliated with ride-hailing platforms. He said they were still allowed to receive aid as long as they were onboarded on the platforms and considered “individuals in crisis situations.”

The government imposes caps on the number of accredited motorcycle taxi drivers per company.

During the House panel hearing, Angkas reported 23,164 riders, while JoyRide had a cap of 15,000. Move It also had a 15,000 cap, with its current number at 14,662 riders.

The companies, however, said they were fully compliant with the government-imposed limits.

Based on data gathered by the DSWD, Gatchalian said at least one company may not be fully compliant, though he did not name it and instead committed to submitting the data to the committee.

Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez questioned the accuracy of the companies’ lists, noting that complaints from drivers who failed to receive aid pointed to possible underreporting.

“Kung sinasabi ng ating Angkas, Move It, at JoyRide na wala po silang paglabag – na eksakto ang numero ng kanilang drivers kung ano ang nabigay sa kanila na cap – sana wala ho walang nagrereklamo sa payout. Sana walang umiiyak na walang nabigyan,” Lopez said.

(If Angkas, Move It, and JoyRide are saying they have no violations – that their number of drivers exactly matches the cap given to them – then there should be no one complaining during the payout. No one should be in tears over not receiving assistance.)

Lopez also estimated that around 50,000 transport network vehicle service drivers are operating without authority or a franchise from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. – Rappler.com