Focus on Amending the 'Doble-Plaka' Law, Not the Constitution – Rider Groups Assert

 

Rider groups, on Sunday, embarked for another Unity Ride from the Commission of Human Rights to the People Power Monument. Their aim: to oppose efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution, arguing that the time and resources allocated by Congress to this effort would be better directed towards passing legislation that safeguards and promotes the interests of marginalized communities, including riders.

 

Representatives from Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong) and other rider groups participating in the protest emphasized the importance of addressing proposed changes to RA 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, commonly known as the ‘Doble-Plaka’ law. This law is resented strongly by the motorcycle riding community prior and until its enactment in March 2019, prompting former President Rodrigo Duterte to temporarily suspend its implementation.

 

“The distraction posed by charter change (cha-cha) efforts could potentially impede the much-needed amendments to the Doble-Plaka law, especially with the attention of lawmakers divided between the people's initiative and the upcoming 2025 national and local elections,” Kagulong emphasized in a statement to the media.

 

Senator JV Ejercito, a rider himself and a passionate motorcycle enthusiast, joined the Unity Ride in solidarity with the riders as he, along with his fellow senators, opposed the House-led people's initiative (PI).

 

Senator JV Ejercito is also the principal author of Senate Bill 159 which seeks amendments to the Doble-Plaka law.

 

Kagulong highlighted the riders' demand for amendments to the oppressive penalties imposed against violators of this law (ranging from P50,000 – P100,000 with imprisonment), as well as the discriminatory aspects of the Doble-Plaka policy to motorcycle riders compared to other vehicle owners.

 

In addition to advocating for changes to the 'Doble-Plaka' law, riders are also pushing for the passage of several bills aimed at recognizing and protecting the rights of platform workers, including delivery riders who often face job insecurity and lack social security coverage.

 

Measures legalizing the operations of motorcycle taxis are also awaiting consideration in Congress.

 

"These are the urgent issues that concern riders. There is nothing about cha-cha in our agenda," Kagulong concluded.

Videos can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/videos/707444054777286

Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (KAGULONG)

11 February 2024

Riders group demand ayuda ahead of SONA

 

The riders’ rights group Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong) asked the government for a package of social assistance for the so-called “bagong bayani” ahead of the first SONA of President Bongbong Marcos.

 

Kagulong held a pre-SONA online gathering yesterday were riders aired their grievances and tabled a set of demands. The group plans to join the alternative SONA mobilization of civil society groups on Monday.

 

“Protection of riders’ rights, livelihood and safety are the three main issue facing the riding community. These can be addressed by the new government through legislation or executive action,” stated Don Pangan Kagulong secretary-general.

 

He explained that the incomes of food delivery, courier and motorcycle taxi riders have been severely affected by rising prices of gasoline. As independent contractors, fuel costs as well as vehicle maintenance are shouldered by riders and not the apps.

 

“When gas prices were around P60 per liter, riders spent P200 to P300 for travelling for 8 to 10 hour a day. Now that gas costs P70 to P80 per liter, fuel expenses have risen to P300 to P400 but gross incomes have remained the same. So, a rider earning P800 daily gets to take home only P500 today instead of P600 or more previously. This net income is now below the minimum wage. Riders are falling into the ranks of the working poor. Thus, the urgency of the demand for subsidized fuel and basic goods,” Pangan elaborated.

 

He added “In addition, riders set aside P50 daily for vehicle maintenance and P100 to P150 weekly (P150/7 days = P21.42) for their cellphone load. This just leaves P428.58 as the take-home pay of a rider. If the spouse also works as a rider, the aggregate household income comes up to only a little more than P800 daily which falls short of the P1,300 cost of living estimate of Partido Manggagawa. No wonder that if riders fall sick or meet an accident then they plunge into debt given that they have no social protection as self-employed workers. Therefore, we demand recognition as employees with labor rights and social security.”

 

Kagulong is also asking Congress to repeal the Doble Plaka law for being discriminatory to riders and authorities for better enforcement of road safety laws.

Kagulong

July 21, 2022

Riders group welcomes motorcycles-for-hire bill

Photo by Aris Ilagan

The riders’ rights group Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong) welcomed the passage of a bill regulating motorcycles-for-hire at the House of Representatives. House Bill No. 10571 or the “Motorcycles-for-Hire Act” was approved yesterday. A counterpart bill by the Senate had earlier been passed. The step would be a bicameral session to reconcile the two versions.

 

“We welcome the legalization and regulation of moto-taxis as it will promote and protect the livelihood of many of our fellow riders along with commuters. We call on the Senate and the House to expedite the bicam version and ensure that riders’ rights are protected as well,” stated Don Pangan, Kagulong secretary-general.

 

The legalization of motorcycles-for-hire or moto-taxis is among the priority agenda of Kagulong along with the repeal of the Doble Plaka Law, and protection for delivery and courier riders. Kagulong’s priority agenda has already received the support of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Panglinan and other senatorial candidates.

 

Kagulong pledged to monitor the bicam deliberations on the regulation of moto-taxis to guarantee no provisions denigrating the rights and welfare of riders are introduced. Most of Kagulong members are workers using motorcycles as means of mobility or riders engaged in the various apps. In November 2020, the group led some 700 Foodpanda riders in a protest that ended at the Department of Labor and Employment in Manila to seek redress of grievances over reduced pay and opaque rules.

 

The group is encouraging the formation of riders’ cooperatives which will operate as moto-taxi platforms. “We call on our fellow riders to unite for the fight to promote both our rights and our livelihood,” Pangan averred.

February 1, 2022

Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong)

Labor group opposes displacement of Angkas riders

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) expressed support for the riders of Angkas who are facing displacement due to a cap set by the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). The LTFRB Technical working Group has reduced the number of riders from Angkas to 10,000 from 27,000 by the start of the 2020. Angkas riders launched a massive protest from White Plains to Quezon Circle today.

“We call on the LTFRB to withdraw its decision. Almost 20,000 Angkas riders are facing a sad Christmas and a bleak new year. Fostering competition in the motorcycle taxi sector is good but it should not lead to massive dislocation of riders. These Angkas riders have already went through months of training and practical experience in plying motorcycle taxis. Only for them to end up jobless due to a LTFRB decision,” asserted Wilson Fortaleza, PM spokesperson.

Fortaleza spoke this afternoon as an assembly of riders in Malolos, Bulacan. Many of the riders in the Malolos assembly joined the Angkas riders protest in Metro Manila.

PM has a history of solidarity with riders’ issues and struggles as it considers them as workers. Aside from the legalization of the motorcycle taxi, PM has supported the fight of riders against the plaka vest and the doble plaka.

“We also call on the Department of Labor and Employment to study the employment relations in the TNVS sector, including motorcycle taxis, and issue appropriate regulations. While companies like Angkas and Grab treat their drivers as independent contractors, we believe this is a misclassification as they should be categorized as employees with concomitant rights. The government must support the transition of riders and drivers from the informal to the formal sector. Thus this is not just a question of livelihood but also of labor standards and workers’ rights,” insisted Fortaleza.

He explained that “Workers comprise 99% of motorcycle riders in the country. The transportation sector is the second biggest employer in the service industry with a total workforce of 3.2 million o o 7.8 per cent of the total employed persons in 2018. Motorcycles are popular with the working masses, both in the formal and informal economy. It is cheap and convenient for going to and from work and as a vehicle for livelihood.”

According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are already 6.2 million registered motorcycles and tricycles as of 2013. The number is growing fast. More than 2 million motorcycles were registered just in the first 10 months of 2018. ###

Photos of the riders assembly can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10157702508339323?__xts__[0]=68.ARBC1Xhza9QYuECJEZvavVo_8e3wkBlM18oE9mFtb_egiy0C9JADtQsz-e4vPMvcCJ53_2omy1YRXs3ZTvtnvlYL75Mhxy2yc00752BmizKG9L1tTCBuGBA77jHqbdAxsUC6oZBm_rMevPNoRZU-CF-c5sVwYAlZ8XCOvG_5xxIapzd858Q_sRKgnqACdIeuzEzhKZbmGG7iGldO1ml4Xp553le0L-fAPXzzLR7NWer_bBHHJqpHM-8Yz8xp1V-m1mvcOOmSebvOOpaHyYzGcfQAkEyyR5fvf9dhFilF6MDTkPqet6JkAwxuKnjzl_4JsHEQBH77QxmynPjkzhQU&__tn__=-R

22 December 2019