Angkas gets provisional authority to resume ops

Ride-hailing firm Angkas on Tuesday received a go-signal from the government to resume its motorcycle taxi operations, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Tuesday.

The Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group (MC Taxi TWG) has given a Provisional Authority (PA) to Operate for Angkas to operate under the extended Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Program, the DOTr said.

The provisional authority is valid from November 24 until December 9, 2020.  

The PA is valid for Metro Manila operations only, Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran told reporters in a Viber group message.

In a separate statement, Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca said that with the PA its riders - about 6,500 initially - will be back on the roads starting November 25.

“We are grateful for the MC Taxi TWG and the DOTr for sharing their invaluable expertise and we are in solidarity with them as we bring mobility back to the public,” Royeca said.

The extended motorcycle taxi pilot study resumed Monday, November 23, a month after the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the program’s resumption.

This will be an extension of the initial pilot run to aid legislation on the possible full legalizing of the service. However, this was not completed due to the implementation of quarantines designed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Angkas, however, still needs to comply with the requirements set by the National Task Force (NTF) and the MC Taxi TWG, such as the provision of insurance for both rider and passenger in case of accidents, as well as the mandatory use of thermal scanners to accurately detect if the passenger has fever (for discussion with NTF). 

“Once the Angkas is able to fully comply with the requirements, a Certificate of Compliance shall be issued to them by the MC Taxi TWG,” the DOTr said.

Sought for clarification, Libiran said that Angkas can operate until December 9, pending its compliance with the said requirement.

During the covered period — November 24 to December 6 — Angkas shall address pending concerns.

“Pwede rin makapag-issue ang TWG sa kanila ng Certificate of Compliance bago mag-expire ‘yung PA nila in case makumpleto nila ASAP ‘yung requirements. ‘Yung Certificate of Compliance will give them authority to operate during the pilot study,” Libiran said.

Royeca, for his part, said that Angkas is compliant with ensuring there is insurance coverage for every ride booked on its platform and “will be providing the documentation to the MC Taxi TWG.”

“We will continue to work closely with the NTF and the MC Taxi TWG on ensuring proper guidelines are followed throughout the operations,” he said.

“Even before resuming operations, Angkas has collaborated with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), UP-College of Public Health (UP-CPH), Inter-Agency Task Force Against Covid-19 (IATF), and the National Task Force (NTF) to create a safe and efficient transportation solution amidst the pandemic restrictions,” he said.

As for the coverage period of the pilot study, the Transportation official said this will be raised in House Committee on Transportation’s hearing on Wednesday.

“Aalamin ng TWG through its Chair, [Assistant Secretary Edgar] Galvante, kung ano pa ang mga data o information na kailangan ng Congress for drafting a law, so the TWG can also gauge how long it is needed for the extended pilot study to run,” Libiran said. —KG/LDF, GMA News