Angkas up in arms as Skyway operator bans small motorcycles along Osmeña Highway

At a press briefing in Manila, Wednesday, July 24, 2019, Angkas officials slammed the ban on small motorcycles along Osmeña Highway, saying the prohibition is not only anti-motorcycle rider but also anti-poor. Motorcycles whose with displacements below 400cc, coming from the East Service Road can no longer use the northbound portion of Osmeña Highway from Sales Bridge to Magallanes. Danny Pata

DBDOYC Inc., the operator of motorcycle ride-hailing service Angkas, is eyeing legal action to have the ban imposed by Skyway O&M Corp. against small motorcycles along Osmeña Highway lifted by a court order.

Angkas is giving Skyway O&M one week to discuss with other stakeholders the directive barring motorbike below 400cc from plying along the stretch of Osmeña Highway, from Sales Bridge to Magallanes.

“One week. Period, assuming they will agree to talk,” lawyer Ariel Inton, representing Angkas, said in a press conference in Manila on Wednesday.

Among the legal remedies Angkas is looking at is injunction or temporary restraining order (TRO) against the ban.

Skyway O&M president Manny Bonoan told GMA News Online the company is “open any time” to have a dialogue with any concerned stakeholder to clarify the issue.

“This is welcome as we can further explain the directive with them,” Bonoan said.

Angkas head for Regulatory and Public Affairs George Royeca claimed that the ban on small motorcycles is “anti-motorcycle rider” and “anti-poor.”

The ban implemented on July 22 prohibits motorcycles which engine displacements below 400cc from using the northbound portion of Osmeña Highway, directing riders to Pasong Tamo Extension to get to their destination either in Pasay, Makati, or Manila.

“What’s worse is that the ban also affects commuters who will have to go the longer way, resulting in longer travel time and higher fares because of the detours,” Royeca said.

Skyway O&M is a private concessionaire designated by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to operate and maintain toll roads under the South Metro Manila Skyway Project.

Royeca noted that Osmeña Highway is not a toll road making it exempt from the list of expressways where sub-400cc motorcycles are banned.

He questioned the authority of Skyway O&M to issue such order.

“Why is it that Skyway O&M is giving that order? Can a private corporation now dictate the use of public roads and facilities?”

“No private corporation has the right to dictate the use of public roads,” Royeca said.

Skyway O&M, however, insisted the stretch of highway in question is part of the Skyway system.

“That could be clarified legally ... That segment na ‘yan is still part of the Skyway system. In fact, kami ang nagme-maintain diyan,” Bonoan said.

“May basis naman kami ... There is a department order from DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications), the DO No. 38 series of 2007, stating that no motorcycles should be allowed inside expressways,” he added.

Skyway O&M prohibited small motorcycles from plying along that portion of road because there have been many accidents involving sub-400cc motorcycles in the area. —VDS, GMA News