Angkas riders lament slow business on first day of motorcycle taxis’ return

After months of waiting for the green light to resume motorcycle taxi operations, Angkas riders were met with long hours of waiting for passengers to book a ride on their first day back on the road.

According to Jun Veneracion’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, several Angkas riders spent morning to noon waiting for passengers by the roadside, but not a single booking came.

“Wala talaga. Wala talagang booking, zero talaga. Kaya ang hirap,” one rider said.

Angkas rider Jomer Santos said this was a stark contrast to their situation prior to the coronavirus pandemic, during which time they earned as much as P2,000 per day.

The requirement for passengers to bring their own helmets and pay through cashless systems may have discouraged them from booking, riders said.

“Isa ring problema ‘yung mga gusto mag-book pero wala silang pang-cashless. Wala silang mga ATM, gano’n, bawal kasi ‘yung cash e,” a rider said.

Despite the slow business on their first day back, the riders expressed optimism that things will get better.

“Dadating din mga ilang araw, lalakas din ‘yan,” Santos said.

Angkas was granted a provisional authority to operate on Tuesday. Operations resumed at 6 a.m. the next day. 

Meanwhile, other riders have decided to stay in the food delivery business a while longer.

“Siguro pag natapos na ‘yung COVID o nawala na, puwede na kong bumalik,” Jonathan Lindo said. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News