Motorcycle Tourism: Billions in Receipts, But Who Fixes the Roads?
The Philippine Motorcycle Tourism program has generated an impressive ₱1.4 billion in tourism receipts over four years. Yet as local tourism surges and the country courts foreign riders, a critical question emerges: who takes responsibility when rapid growth exposes systemic cracks in our infrastructure and policies?
From Breakfast Rides to Billion-Peso Industry
What began as informal breakfast rides among motorcycle enthusiasts has evolved into a nationwide movement with serious economic impact. The Philippine Motorcycle Tourism (PMT) program, spearheaded by the Tourism Promotions Board, represents more than government bureaucracy attempting to harness grassroots passion.
"PMT is a tourism program, not a government office," explains Cesar Villanueva, Division Chief for Domestic Promotions at TPB. "Our role is to unite and integrate the riding community in a common purpose: promoting the country's tourism destinations while they enjoy their passion for riding."
The program's roots trace back to 2016, when riders like Raymon Gabriel, founder of Breakfast Ride Community, began framing long-distance riding as economic opportunity rather than mere recreation. Gabriel's vision required government partnership to survive and thrive.
"I thought, to make this successful, kailangan may partnership with the government. Kasi yung effort namin, kahit libo yung dala naming tao, it will just die kung walang program," Gabriel recalls.
Pandemic Pivot: Two Wheels as Economic Backbone
The COVID-19 pandemic transformed motorcycles from hobby vehicles to economic lifelines. When buses and planes faced restrictions, the economy literally ran on two wheels. Motorcycles became the backbone of local travel, keeping small businesses afloat across the archipelago.
PMT officially launched in November 2021 with a Calabarzon ride attracting over 300 participants. Since then, TPB data shows 93 events involving more than 54,000 riders, generating that remarkable ₱1.4 billion in tourism receipts against just ₱62.3 million in public spending over four years.
The numbers explain policymakers' attention. Unlike fly-in tourists, motorcycle riders disperse spending across small towns. Big-bike riders, often retirees or business owners, spend ₱6,000 to ₱12,000 daily on food, lodging, fuel, and activities. Even budget-conscious scooter riders contribute ₱3,000 to ₱5,000 daily.
Freedom on Two Wheels
"In the Philippines, motorcycles represent freedom," observes Ibba Bernardo, host of weekly podcast Tunay na Rider. "Not first-world freedom, but freedom from inadequate public transport, freedom to navigate pothole-ridden roads, freedom to explore beyond one's barangay and workplace, and even financial freedom."
This resonates deeply across our diverse archipelago, where motorcycles offer mobility solutions that buses and jeepneys cannot match. With 1.79 million new motorcycle units expected on Philippine roads in 2025 alone, according to Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association data, the sector's growth trajectory appears unstoppable.
Legislative Support: Safety First
Senator JV Ejercito, a longtime motorcycle tourism advocate, believes the sector can become a strong economic driver if safety, infrastructure, and promotion receive coordinated attention. His Senate Bill No. 1133, the Comprehensive Road Safety Education Act, seeks to integrate road safety education into K-to-12 curriculum.
"Nilalayon ng panukalang batas na ito na maaga pa lang, matutunan na ng kabataan ang tamang asal at disiplina sa kalsada," Ejercito explains. The measure covers traffic sign literacy, pedestrian rights, and risks of distracted or intoxicated driving.
For 2026, the Senate allocated ₱4.1 billion for the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program, developing priority access roads to tourist destinations. Additionally, after years of budget cuts that reduced DoT's branding budget from ₱1 billion to just ₱100 million, the Senate restored it to ₱1 billion for 2025.
The Accountability Gap
Here lies the challenge: growth has exposed institutional weaknesses that no single agency owns completely. Roads and roadside safety fall under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units. Yet riders consistently cite uneven pavement, sudden surface changes, poor drainage, and missing guardrails as primary crash risks.
Inter-island travel involves overlapping authority between the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and private shipping operators, with maritime safety regulated by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). This fragmentation produces the sector's most persistent complaint: inconsistent fees, multiple gate passes, and hours-long processing that varies by port and shipping line.
Local government units control on-the-ground conditions: signage, traffic enforcement, parking rules, and access to attractions. Riders describe arriving in one town with police escorts and clear rules, then crossing into another where requirements suddenly change.
The DoT and TPB handle promotion and coordination, not enforcement. PMT can align stakeholders and fund events, but cannot compel DPWH to redesign roads, DOTr to standardize ferry rules, or LGUs to adopt uniform ordinances.
Looking Forward: Premier Destination or Missed Opportunity?
As motorcycle tourism shifts from grassroots movement to formal tourism product, the question evolves. It's no longer whether riders are willing, but whether agencies will accept responsibility for systemic improvements only they can deliver.
Senator Ejercito envisions consistent riding traffic across provinces, rising incomes for small businesses, and expanding tourism-related jobs within five years. "If communities see sustained economic benefits, that's when we know motorcycle tourism is working and the Philippines can begin positioning itself as a premier motorcycle tourism destination in Asia."
The riding community stands ready. The economic potential is proven. The challenge now rests with our institutions: will they rise to match the riders' passion with the systematic support this billion-peso industry deserves?
For a nation of islands connected by sea and road, motorcycle tourism offers unique opportunities to showcase our diverse destinations while supporting local communities. The question remains whether our systems can evolve as quickly as our riders' enthusiasm.