Angkas to expand nationwide once motorcycle taxi law is approved

Motorcycle-hailing app Angkas is eyeing to expand operations across the country once a law legalizing motorcycle taxis is in place, one of the company’s top officials said Tuesday.

Angkas currently operates in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.

“We hope that when we legalize the motorcycle taxi, we can run this nationwide,” Angkas Regulatory and Public Affairs head George Royeca told reporters on the sidelines of the Roads and Traffic Expo in Pasay City.

The company is eyeing to expand operations in major cities hounded by traffic congestion.

“The more traffic you have, the more we’ll look at the city,” Royeca said.

“Traffic is not exclusive to Metro Manila, it’s not just a Metro Manila problem. It’s a problem of every city that is progressing, every successful city that will experience congestion at some point in time,” he said.

Among the major cities Angkas is eyeing are Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City, and primary cities in Batangas.

Angkas is optimistic that lawmakers will pass the measure allowing motorcycle taxis to operate in the country, looking at it as an opportunity to offer an alternative mode of transport in traffic-jammed Metro Manila and other metropolitan centers.

At least four senators have filed a bill legalizing the operations of motorcycle taxis or “habal-habal,” including Senators Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, Imee Marcos, and Sonny Angara.

“We’re just waiting for the schedule in the Senate so we can present interim results ... and hopefully we’re able to push this nga into a law,” Royeca said.

“I think everyone’s in agreement na that motorcycle taxis are something that the country needs, the country uses. Habal-habal has been there for a while. It’s high time that we regulate it,” he said.

Angkas counts 27,000 biker-partners among its fleet.

In May, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) allowed motorcycle taxis, including Angkas, to operate for six months starting in June.

"Angkas is not the be-all, end-all solution to traffic. No single agency or company can do that, But because of our current partnership with DOTr, we’ve shown that we can at least ease the traffic by providing an inclusive transport option,” Royeca said.  —VDS, GMA News