JoyRide operator to diversify to food delivery service

We Move Things Philippines Inc., operator of JoyRide, is looking at diversifying to food delivery service as a contingency plan should legislators fail to pass a law legalizing the operations of motorcycle taxis by the time the pilot study lapses in March.

The Department of Transportation’s inter-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) on motorcycle taxis, last Dec. 18, 2019, extended the six-month pilot run of motorcycle ride-hailing operations for another three months, with the inclusion of two new players — JoyRide and Move It. 

The pilot run involving motorcycle taxi pioneer Angkas ended on Dec. 26, 2019.

The extended pilot implementation will be from Dec. 23, 2019 to Mar. 23, 2020.

The pilot study on motorcycle taxis’ viability as a mode of public transport is being conducted in aid of legislation to evaluate pending bills pushing for the legalization of motorcycles as public utility vehicles (PUVs).

The TWG has earlier said it will no longer extend the study and service providers will have to wait for a new law or existing laws to be amended to allow their operations. 

“Sana hindi magtapos sa pilot run pero pinaghahandaan namin kung anuman ang mangyari,” JoyRide Vice President for Corporate Affairs Noli Eala said in a press conference in Antipolo City, Rizal on Tuesday.

Asked what the company’s plan if the pilot study lapses and there is no law supporting motorcycle taxis’ operations, Eala said, “Eh di pupunta kami sa food delivery.”

We Move Things Philippines, prior to operating Angkas, is in the business of logistics, particularly cargo delivery — Happy Move.

Food delivery, Eala said, “is another side of the business that we are going to grow,” noting that initial operations will be in Metro Manila.

Apart from diversifying to food delivery service, the company will also offer its facilities to train riders from other delivery service firms. —KBK, GMA News