DOTr stops enforcement of order vs 'Move It'

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Sunday stopped the enforcement of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) order against motorcycle ride-hailing app Move It, following the company's filing of a motion for reconsideration.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the LTFRB's directive ordering Move It to significantly reduce its fleet and cease operations in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro would be placed on hold pending a thorough review of the appeal.

The move effectively allows Move It, a subsidiary of Grab, to continue its operations while the DOTr and LTFRB deliberate on the appeal's merits. The decision comes amid growing backlash over the timing and impact of the LTFRB order, which critics say threatens to disrupt the already strained public transportation landscape.

Earlier, Move It criticized the LTFRB order which directs the company to slash its rider fleet from 14,662 to the regulated cap of 6,836 — a reduction of nearly 50 percent. The company warned that the abrupt cut would displace thousands of riders and potentially worsen mobility issues in key urban centers.

"We all know how hard it is to get a ride on public transportation; and now is the time we're choosing to lay off riders?" said Move It General Manager Wayne Jacinto.

In its April directive, the LTFRB ordered Move It to stop on-boarding new riders for one year and submit a verified list of its active riders within 30 days. The board also emphasized the need for stricter transparency and oversight through the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group.

According to LTFRB records, Move It had exceeded its approved rider allocation by nearly 8,000 units. The board warned that failure to comply with the directive could result in the suspension or outright revocation of the company's authority to operate.