THE last time I was at the Senate, representing our advocacy group — the Coalition for Filipino Commuters — I distinctly remember Sen. Grace Poe saying that the Senate hearings on motorcycle (MC) taxis had reached their conclusion and that a Senate committee report would be released soon.Typically, once hearings conclude, a bill addressing the issue is drafted and the motion to create a law is initiated. However, that was about a year ago, and one wonders what happened between then and now, as no law has yet been passed to legalize MC taxis.Angkas head George Royeca is now on the road to Congress via a party-list application, yet he still has nothing to show for the legislative effort he helped pioneer.Now, riders are pinning their hopes on Sen. Raffy Tulfo to give them legitimacy, even as numerous issues continue to plague the operation of MC taxis. Motorcycle Taxi Community Philippines Chairman Romeo Maglunsod said that they see Tulfo as their only hope for the passage of the MC taxi law, which has been pending in Congress for the last five years.MC taxis have become the go-to transportation for many Filipinos looking to beat the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila and its suburbs. With traffic getting worse by the day and authorities unable to propose a viable solution, MC taxis have emerged as a virtual savior for urban commuters who are on the rush.Yet, even though Poe concluded her hearings and expressed optimism about the future of MC taxis, no law has been passed — there isn't even a bill on file — despite the sector serving public transport needs quite efficiently.Admittedly, there are still some flaws in execution and policy direction, but these are not issues that regulators cannot address, provided the service is made legal and rational.Making MC taxis legal not only provides commuters the convenience of an effective transport option but also ensures safety regulations for riders and passengers, puts in place insurance for unexpected incidents, and holds operators accountable under the law.Meanwhile, the Lower House appears too busy to address what the public truly needs in real-world terms. They seem more interested in lofty matters such as confidential funds and spending by the vice president's office — issues that have little tangible impact on the daily lives of Filipinos, apart from any imagined boost to certain political figures.Concerns like easing traffic congestion, improving commuter welfare and safety, and enhancing road safety appear alien to their investigations and seldom get their attention.As a result, riders and commuters now look to so-called 'McCarthyist thinker' senators like Tulfo for solutions. Given Tulfo's track record in addressing public service issues, he just might be the one to push through the long-awaited MC taxi legislation. Should that happen, expect his popularity to surge again — along with that of his brothers, Erwin and Ben.And the congressmen still wonder how these brothers remain favorites among commuters and public transport drivers, despite the numerous allegations against them — perhaps because few others have come close to matching their level of public service engagement.
