Angkas laments 10K cap on riders

Motorycyle taxi pioneer Angkas on Saturday hit the inter-agency Technical Working Group’s (TWG) decision to put a cap on each of the three service providers in the extended pilot run of operations.

The Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) TWG on Friday extended the six-month pilot run of motorcycle ride-hailing operations, involving Angkas, for another three months, with the inclusion of two new players. 

The present pilot run was supposed to end on December 26.

The inter-agency group, however, allotted a cap of 39,000 registered bikers — 10,000 bikers per Transport Network Company (TNC) for Metro Manila and 3,000 bikers per TNC for Metro Cebu operations.

With this, Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca said, “Ngayon, sa halip na kami ay dagdagan, nagpasiya ang LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] na bawasan pa ang Angkas bikers mula 27,000 hanggang 10,000 na lamang.”

“That’s a compromise to the quality of service you can expect, and A DIRECT BLOW TO 17,000 FILIPINO FAMILIES,” Royeca said.

Eto ba ang pamasko sa amin, mawalan ng trabaho? #SaveAngkas pic.twitter.com/0dKodruhAN

— Angkas (@angkas) December 21, 2019

In May, the DOTr allowed Angkas to operate as ride-hailing motorcycle taxi for six months starting in June.

The pilot run was approved in aid of legislation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to evaluate pending bills on the legalization of motorcycles as public utility vehicles (PUVs).

As a result existing laws such as Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code may be amended, according to the DOTr.

“Coming into this pilot, 27,000 ang bikers namin, many of whom have been with us serving you, the public since 2017,” Royeca said.

“Bakit kailangan bawasan at tanggalan ng trabaho ang mga bikers natin? Bakit kailangang parusahan ang mga bikers na nakapag-training at napatunayan ang galing sa daan?” he added.

Angkas said it will hold a unity gathering on Sunday morning at the EDSA People Power Shrine in White Plains, Quezon City to protest the cap on the number of riders.

Rally ka ghorl? Everyone is welcome to join. #SaveAngkas pic.twitter.com/nPyQlF3SvH

— Angkas (@angkas) December 21, 2019

—KG, GMA News