In recent months, Maxim has faced bans in Angeles City and Clark Freeport Zone, with talks of similar action in Mabalacat City. It was discussed during the News @ Hues Media Forum of the Pampanga Press Club at Park Inn by Radisson Clark. Tricycle operators and drivers associations have pushed back hard. Some label Maxim drivers as colorum. The tension is real.

But so is the shift in how people move.

You can resist new tech. You can delay it. You cannot stop it.

As a traveler who relies on public transport, I see ride hailing apps as gap fillers. Our regional centers are built for cars. Wide roads. Scattered destinations. Limited fixed routes. Public transport does its job, but it does not cover everything.

That is where apps like Maxim come in.

They solve a problem many locals and visitors quietly complain about. Overcharging. Inconsistent fares. The awkward negotiation before a ride even starts. With ride hailing, the fare is computed upfront. You see it before you book. That removes friction.

Convenience matters too. You book from home. From a hotel lobby. From a café. No stepping out to flag down a tricycle. No shouting down the street. No guessing if a taxi will agree to your destination. The ride is logged in the app. There is a digital trail. For solo travelers, that layer of traceability adds comfort.

For tourism, that matters.

International visitors are sensitive to transport stress. If their first experience is bargaining or worrying about being overcharged, it affects how they see the place. Transparent pricing builds confidence. It encourages exploration beyond main roads and malls. It supports local businesses because people are more willing to move around.

Availability is another factor. These apps run 24/7. Early flight. Late dinner. Emergency errand. The service is there.

And the platform is not limited to rides. It supports pabili services, parcel delivery, and food delivery. That means extended livelihood options. One app. Multiple income streams.

I understand the concern of TODAs. Disruption feels threatening. But there is also opportunity.

Inclusion is possible.

Many platforms allow tricycle drivers to join. Not all services require a car. If TODAs create a fair dispatch system within their jurisdiction, they can even improve their own operations. Imagine residents inside a village booking a tricycle through an app instead of walking out to the highway and waving for attention. It is orderly. It is trackable. It can be structured so rides are distributed equally among members.

That is not replacement. That is adaptation.

Transport systems evolve. Horse-drawn carriages gave way to jeepneys. Jeepneys shared roads with buses. Taxis coexisted with tricycles. Now apps enter the mix.

The real question is not how to stop technology. It is how to regulate it properly, integrate it fairly, and protect both commuters and drivers.

As a traveler, I will always choose options that are transparent, safe, and easy to use. If local governments can find a balanced framework instead of outright bans, everyone stands to gain. Residents move with less stress. Tourists feel at ease. Drivers access wider demand.

Change is uncomfortable. But mobility should not be.