DOTr-TWG on motorcycle taxis wants Angkas, incorporators blacklisted

The Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) inter-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) on motorcycle taxis has recommended the blacklisting of motorcycle ride-hailing company Angkas.

This came to light Monday after Senator Imee Marcos questioned TWG head Antonio Gardiola on the content of the report it submitted to Congress during a Senate hearing.

"'Yung recommendation 19, blacklisting of Angkas and its incorporators. Hindi individual riders 'yan kundi buong  kumpanya," Marcos said.

The TWG recommended that Angkas be blacklisted from further participating as a motorcycle taxi service provider via ride hailing platform or application even if Republic Act 4136 will be amended “as they blatantly exhibited defiance on mandated guidelines set forth by the TWG.”

Gardiola said this was because of Angkas' alleged violation of the guidelines issued by the TWG.

“Sa unang guidelines ang nakalagay na area of study ay NCR (National Capital Region) at Cebu. Andun sa guidelines na bawal mag-operate sa ibang areas pero sila ang operate sa CDO (Cagayan de Oro), GenSan (General Santos), and Pampanga,” he said.

During the hearing, Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca expressed hope that they will not be blacklisted.

“Sana po hindi kami ma-blacklist. Sana po kasama kami sa pag extension ng pilota. We have complied and we have been complying even with the new TWG nagko-comply kami,” he said.

He also urged the TWG and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to set aside the rift with them.

“Sa kabila ng lahat ng nangyayari andito pa rin kami at handang makipagtulungan sa LTFRB upang makalikha nang maayos na datos sa motorcycle taxi,” Royeca said.

“Ang panawagan ko lang sa LTFRB at TWG, yung alitan natin, let’s set it aside. Unahin natin ang kapakanan ng mananakay. Andito kami ready to comply  with everything that we have,” he added, pointing out that Angkas has nothing against the other new players.

“We are one with other providers, we have not against them. We are against ‘yung sa riders cap lang,” he said. —KBK, GMA News