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Angkas optimistic on likely resumption of motorcycle taxis after IATF endorsement


Ride-hailing firm Angkas expressed high hopes that motorcycle taxis will be allowed to serve the commuting public soon after the government’s COVID-19 task force endorsed the resumption of a pilot study on their operations.

During the virtual launch of the private sector-led Ingat Angat Tayong Lahat campaign, Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca said the possible resumption of motorcycle taxi pilot study is an opportunity for more than 20,000 riders in its fleet to resume their livelihood amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a resolution approved on Monday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) endorsed to the House transportation committee the request of Metro Manila mayors for the Department of Transportation to continue the pilot study.

Operations of motorcycle taxis were cut short in March, ahead of the pilot study’s expiration in April, due to the enforcement of an enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The pilot run took place as Congress evaluated bills pushing for the legalization of motorcycles as public utility vehicles.

“The next steps now is to wait for Congress. But, we’ve already been working on our own steps in the last few months, preparing the fleet to safely lift passengers,” Royeca said.

“We had several hearings already. We are quite hopeful that Congressman Edgar Sarmiento, chair of the committee on Transportation, is actually favorable in the resumption of motorcycle taxis,” he added.

For his part, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Policy Against COVID-19, said the IATF will sit down with Congress for the extension of the pilot study on motorcycle taxis.

“We are doing this to ensure that we have adequate mass transport for our workers and the general public as we continue to open up more of our economy,” Galvez said.

"Part of the plan is to increase the number of public vehicles, especially the ride-hailing motorcycle taxi, which can increase the capacity to provide services to more than 400,000 workers," the COVID-19 task force chief implementer said.

Galvez also said there was “no transmission when they [Angkas] helped transport healthcare workers.”

Royeca said Angkas’ fleet is ready to serve commuters, assuring its partner-drivers have been trained on proper disinfection of vehicles after every trip.

He said the company will utilize cashless payment schemes, IATF-approved barriers between the rider and passenger, and not allowing the sharing of helmets.

“Passengers should have their own helmet,” he added.—AOL, GMA News

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