30k Angkas riders ready to serve commuters as motorcycle taxis allowed

Ride-hailing firm Angkas is prepared to activate its fleet of 30,000-strong partner-riders after the government gave the thumbs up on the resumption of motorcycle taxi operations.

In a virtual press chat, Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca said the company had been preparing since the onset of the pandemic to ensure that health protocols would be strictly observed when the government allowed motorcycle taxis to serve commuters.

"Ready na po... Ilang buwan na nagte-training. We can deploy everyone. We are good and ready," Royeca said.

Royeca said Angkas would close the “gap” in public transport since only 40% of public transportation had been available to serve a 60% workforce allowed to resume their jobs as the economy reopened amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malacañang earlier announced that the House of Representatives had allowed the continuation of the pilot study

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) gave the go-signal on Thursday after the House transportation committee backed the resumption of operations.

Roque said the guidelines will be issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

For her part, Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said an inter-agency Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group will be convened and the LTFRB will be part of it.

While waiting for government guidelines, Royeca said its riders would continue to undergo training on proper disinfection to ensure the safety of passengers.

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

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. -NB, GMA News