JoyRide denies political influence in motorcycle taxi pilot study inclusion

We Move Things Philippines Inc., the operator of motorcycle-hailing provider JoyRide, denied allegations that the company was politically favored in its inclusion in the extended pilot study on the viability of motorcycle taxis as a mode of public transportation, but admitted that it sought help from a senator to be included in the study's original run.

In a press conference in Quezon City on Thursday, JoyRide president Neil Sherwin Yu acknowledged that he sought the help of ruling party PDP-Laban president and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to endorse his letter to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, requesting participation in the then six-month pilot study involving Angkas.

READ: Senator Koko Pimentel endorsing letter of Neil Sherwin Yu, president of JoyRide, to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. Yu is requesting participation in the earlier pilot run for motorcycle taxi operations. pic.twitter.com/C2CwA43OM0

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JoyRide vice president for Corporate Affairs Noli Eala stressed, however, that he does not think their letter was acted upon.

“I don’t think it really helped us kasi hindi naman umusad itong aming application eh. I don’t believe anybody acted on that letter of Senator Pimentel,” he said.

In a text message, Pimentel admitted that his office endorsed JoyRide’s letter to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

“Yes, my office endorsed their letter to DOTr. DOTr did not accommodate them during the first pilot period,” the senator said.

PDP-Laban official is JoyRide exec

Meanwhile, PDP-Laban secretary general of Quezon City Edwin Rodriguez said the ruling party has nothing to do with JoyRide.

“Wala pong kinalaman ang PDP-Laban dito,” he said.

Rodriguez acts as JoyRide's business development adviser.

Eala said the company hired the PDP-Laban official because of his background in logistics and not because of his political affiliation.

Rodriguez also clarified that he had no say in JoyRide's decision to seek Pimentel's help as he only joined the company recently.

"'Yung paglapit nila kay Senator Pimentel is because he is the chairman of the [Senate] committee on trade. Kumbaga they are just seeking help from the right person, nothing political don," Rodriguez told GMA News Online in a separate phone interview.

No Go

Eala also denied rumors circulating on social media that Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is the owner or has stakes in the motorcycle taxi firm.

“Senator Bong Go has never been part of JoyRide. We would like to clear that particular fake news. We also like to apologize to Senator Bong Go for him being dragged into this,” Eala said.

“He is not part of JoyRide, neither anybody from the government... Wala pong kahit sinong taga gobyerno na miyembro ng JoyRide. We have absolutely no connection with the government. None of us have relatives that are in the government,” he added.

Go last week also denied that he is involved in JoyRide.

Eala said that the company's owners are the Nubla and Chua families.

“One of the owners [are] Ralph Nubla and family, and Bea Chua and family,” Eala said, noting that the two families have interests in banking and finance, real estate, and wholesale.

On December 18, 2019, the inter-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) extended the six-month pilot run of motorcycle ride-hailing operations for another three months, with the inclusion of two new players.

The TWG approved the extension as the pilot run involving motorcycle taxi pioneer Angkas was about to end on December 26, 2019.

The body has allowed Angkas, together with new players JoyRide, and Move to participate in the “Extended Pilot Implementation” starting December 23, 2019 up to March 23, 2020 with an overall allotted 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.

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 pushing for 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. — with Amita Legaspi/BM, GMA News