Angkas in danger of possible blacklisting amid violations —TWG

The future of Angkas’s operations could be on the rocks as the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) inter-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) found the company has allegedly violated some provisions in the government’s ongoing pilot study for motorcycle taxis’ viability as a mode of public transport.

“Very possible for them to be blacklisted [because] of their violations on the guidelines,” TWG chairman and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) member Antonio Gardiola Jr. said in a press briefing in Quezon City on Tuesday.

Gardiola  said the two companies JoyRide and MoveIt could also face the same fate if they would breach the guidelines.

The TWG in December extended the pilot study on the viability of motorcycle taxis in the country until March 23, 2020, and provided the inclusion of two new players JoyRide and Move It.

According to the TWG, it found that Angkas was allegedly operating in Cagayan de Oro City and General Santos City, which are not included in areas identified by the government for pilot study.

The inter-agency body has identified Metro Manila and Metro Cebu as areas where motorcycle taxis can operate during the initial six-month and three-month extended pilot studies.

Gardiola said LTFRB operatives disguised as “mystery passengers” confirmed that Angkas riders were hailing commuters in areas outside the pilot study.

GMA News Online has reached out to Angkas for comment, but no response yet has been received as of posting.

The TWG chair said Angkas’s alleged violations will be included in its recommendations to Congress for the possible crafting of a legislation to legalize motorcycle taxis.

Should there be a legislation allowing motorcycle taxis, the continuity of Angkas’s operations could be in danger due to its alleged violations.

The TWG and Angkas have locked horns since the inter-agency body imposed an overall allotted cap of 39,000 registered bikers  to be shared equally among the pioneer and new players JoyRide and Move It.

Angkas has decried that around 17,000 riders out of 27,000 in its fleet will be disenfranchised with the TWG’s cap.

Last Dec. 18, 2019, the TWG extended the six-month pilot run of motorcycle ride-hailing operations for another three months, with the inclusion of two new players. 

This as the pilot run involving motorcycle taxi pioneer Angkas was about to end on Dec. 26, 2019.

The extended pilot study runs from Dec. 23, 2019 to Mar. 23, 2020. —LDF, GMA News