Angkas to Resume Operations as NTF Releases New Guidelines

• NTF DOTr allow resumption of Motorcycle Taxis this week Angkas fully compliant and ready to serve commuters

The implementing guidelines for the resumption of operations of motorcycle taxis have been approved and as soon as operators have shown compliance to all the provisions, Angkas and the other motorcycle taxis which have been given permission to participate in the pilot run might be back on the streets very soon.

This is the development that follows the previous issuance of the House of Representatives House Resolution No. 1286 that calls for the continuance of the motorcycle taxi pilot run in order to increase mobility to ease public transport and re-invigorate the economy, especially in places like the National Capital Region (NCR). This pilot run will also include Cebu and Cagayan de Oro (CDO).

The recent memorandum (Circular No.3)  released by the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) on November 4 detailed the guidelines that motorcycle taxi companies, their drivers, and passengers must observe in order to operate again on the streets, roads, and public highways. 

“Transport should be safe and not compromise the guidelines that prevent COVID-19 transmission,” said National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) Secretary Vince Dizon during a virtual press conference held today. “These motorcycle taxi guidelines—-with the Department of Transportation (DOTR), the Department of Health (DOH), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and other partners even in the private sector—-can increase the safety of our public.”

“Thanks to the agencies and the private sector who have joined together to help the government come up with safe and secure guidelines to provide commuters with motorcycle taxi options ASAP,” he continued. 

Also present during the virtual press conference were DOTrUsec. Artemio Tuazon Jr; DOTr Asst. Sec. Mark Steven Pastor;  DOTr Asst Sec. Edgar Galvante who was speaking on behalf of the Land Transportation Office (LTO); DOTr Asst. Sec. Goddess Libiran; and Angkas Chief Transport Advocate George Royeca.

DOTr Asst. Sec. Pastor acknowledged the economy’s reliance on mobility, saying, “This is a good step of our opening up the economy, kasi magkakaroon ng modality sa ating public transportation. Isusulong po natin ang additional modes of mobility to also reduce travel time. Lalo na po’t may extended pilot run, keeping in mind na may safe re-launching ng pilot implementation gamit ang mga safety guidelines.” The aforementioned pilot run also aims to help legislators finally enact a law for motorcycle taxis. 

“We thank and laud the government, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF), and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF),” said Angkas Chief Transport Advocate George Royeca, who has been a vocal representative for the transport industry and its commuters.  “With their support, we have been able to advocate for the many stakeholders who were heavily impacted by mobility restrictions.Talaga pong concerted effort ito para salahat ng modes of transportation para po sa paglilingkod natinsa taong bayan.” 

Asec Galvante said that the three motorcycle taxi providers will be invited to convene with the Technical Working Group (TWG) within this week to ensure their compliance with the aforementioned safety procedures for two-wheel vehicles. These include having an NTF-approved barrier; cashless transactions; non-sharing of helmets; use of facemask and helmets with full face visor that act as a face shield; professional licenses for all participating bikers; submitting daily health updates prior to work hours, among many others. 

Asec Galvante clarified, “The sooner that the motorcycle taxi company can comply with these requirements, then the sooner their bikers can operate on the streets.”

Royeca shared, “We are fully compliant and we are submitting all the compliance requirements to the DOTr and the Congress TWG today.”  

Angkas has already prepared 23,000 riders for the NCR, 4,500 for Cebu, and 900 for CDO. Currently, 3,000 of these bikers have already undergone RCTPR, with all of them yielding negative results. Angkas’ goal, though, is to have 100% of its bikers tested and cleared.

DOTr Asst. Sec. Goddess Libiran had already publicly shared her support for Angkas in October. “We’ve always known that efficient mobility and a bustling economy go hand-in-hand,” she shared. “That’s why with the IATF and NTF, we really worked closely with local government units (LGUs) and Angkas who were very passionate about providing a safe means of transportation for our essential workers.”

During the said pilot, riders will be regularly trained and checked, while consumers will be consistently updated on social media so they can enter the new normal with better worry-free mobility.

Even during the temporary service suspension caused by the nationwide lockdown, Angkas continued to train its riders in enhanced safety practices. 

It collaborated closely with the UP-College of Public Health (UP-CPH) to create the only government-approved protective barrier for riders as well as other recommended health protocols. The IATF approval on these shield specs has also prompted other on-delivery service providers, like MOVE IT, to request their designs from Angkas — which Royeca has given free of charge.

These efforts, coincidentally, are in line with the NTF, which has also been tasked with issuing, implementing, and monitoring the needed measures against further transmission of the virus. 

“Mobility is really key for our economy,” continued Royeca. “ We are all helping to bring the economy back. This is just the beginning. We are ready to work hand-in-hand with the government to ensure that we are fully committed for the safety of the public.

Angkas, which continues to be the country’s leading motorcycle-taxi app-based ride-hailing service, has received international accolades and over 5 million downloads in only four years. In that time, it has even pioneered the legitimization of the motorcycle taxi as a form of public transit.