LTFRB fines Move It P555 million over excess motorcycle taxi riders
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has imposed a P555.75-million fine against Move It after it was found that the company had exceeded its authorized number of rider-partners.
In a decision made on Oct. 9, the government agency said that the ride-hailing platform was authorized to operate only 17,746 rider-partners in the Philippines—14,662 in Metro Manila, 2,723 in Cebu City, and 361 in Cagayan de Oro.
Upon investigation, however, they had a total of 73,321 as of May 2026, exceeding the count by 55,575.
While Move It will be allowed to continue its operations, they have been ordered to pay a fine worth P555.75 million, which is equivalent to P10,000 for each of the excess riders. Failure to do so will lead to the suspension of the platform's authority to participate in the Morocycle Taxi Pilot program or the revocation of its accreditation.
The motorcycle taxi app has also been directed to impose an immediate and temporary halt on the onboarding of new riders for one year, as well as cease operations in Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro. Its records must also show that it has not been granted any authorization to operate in these areas.
However, the LTFRB later clarified on Nov. 3 that the decision that they issued is not yet final, as there is a pending Motion for Reconsideration filed by Move It.
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"Inasmuch as the LTFRB wants to provide all the information in relation to the investigation conducted, the agency is constrained to do so in the interest of due process as the legal proceedings are still considered ongoing," they stated.
For now, their focus is to address the "plight of the thousands of overboarded riders who invested their own resources to earn a decent living—and whose only fault was that they acted in good faith and trusted that they were allowed to operate under the existing rules and regulations."
"The LTFRB is currently crafting measures in dealing with this sensitive issue in relation to the affected riders, while ensuring that the online boarding system of ride-hailing services is strictly complying with the government’s regulations," the agency said.
Meanwhile, Move It stated that it respects the LTFRB's authority and is committed to "working toward a sustainable and adaptive regulatory framework for motorcycle taxis."
"We also want to be clear and transparent about where we stand. MOVE IT views rider allocation as a dynamic measure of live, on-demand supply. The gig economy is built on flexibility, with riders going online and offline throughout the day based on their own schedules," it explained.
"Because of this natural fluidity, maintaining continuous supply for commuters means monitoring the number of riders who are actively online and ready to accept trips at any given moment, especially during peak rush hours."
Move It promised riders that it is working closely with the LTFRB and other regulators to protect their livelihood.
Move It began operating in the Philippines in 2019 when it joined the government's Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Program in Metro Manila. The program was launched to study the feasibility and safety of allowing motorcycles to transport passengers for a fee.
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