Joyride gets green light to resume ops

App-based ride-hailing services provider Joyride on Tuesday received an approval from the government to resume its motorcycle taxi operations, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.

In a statement, the DOTr said the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group (MC Taxi TWG) issued a Provisional Authority to Operate for Joyride to operate under the extended Motorcycle Taxi  Pilot Program.

The provisional authority shall be valid from November 24 to December 9, 2020.

JUST IN: Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group gives Joyride a provisional authority to resume operations under the extended Motorcycle Pilot Program. | via @Ted_Cordero

— GMA News Breaking (@gmanewsbreaking) November 24, 2020

Pending compliance on mandatory use of thermal scanners to accurately detect if the passenger has fever, Joyride is allowed to serve commuters during the validity period of its provisional authority.

“Once Joyride 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.

If Joyride was issued a compliance certificate, it can operate within the prescribed period of the pilot study —which will be determined by the TWG after discussions with the House Committee on Transportation in a hearing scheduled Wednesday.

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.

“NTF (National Task Force) just relayed to the MC Taxi TWG that the barrier design of Joyride has already been approved,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said.

Angkas, the pioneer of motorcycle ride-hailing service in the Philippines, also received a provisional authority to operate from November 24 to December 9, 2020. -MDM, GMA News