Riders of ‘Angkas’ motorcycle-hailing app arrested in joint ops

A joint anti-colorum operation was launched by various transport authorities and local government against an app-based motorcycle hailing service and habal-habal riders, according to a report by Saleema Refran on News To Go on Thursday.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) board member Attorney Aileen Lizada said motorcycles were not considered transport providers even with the hailing app Angkas.

Motorcycles hailed through these applications had no LTFRB-approved insurance and can be considered colorum, similar to habal-habal riders.

Lizada and 18 other LTFRB officials pretended to be customers and booked a ride from EDSA McKinley to 5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Members of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and PNP-Highway Patrol Group captured the 19 riders upon arriving their arrival.

Though the riders explained that they did not know the illegality of their service, the joint task group confiscated their licenses and impounded their motorcycles.

In a statement issued Thursday night, Angkas urged Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to include two-wheeled vehicles under the Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) category so it can operate formally.

It asked Tugade to consider amending a department order to group motorcycle-taxis under LTFRB jurisdiction.

“On behalf of its bikers, Angkas has always been open to regulation. We believe that the motorcycle industry needs proper regulation to raise its standards of safety and quality,” the statement said.

“We hope that this unregulated sector can be professionalized and imbued with safety standards and coverage similar to that of Transport Network Vehicle Services,” it also said. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News