TRAFFIC BUSTER An Angkas rider ferries a commuter
MANILA, Philippines — Motorcycle ride-hailing company Angkas may soon start picking up passengers again after months of public clamor.
This, because starting first week of June, motorcycle taxis will be authorized to operate for a six-month test run, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Friday.
DOTr said in a statement that Secretary Arthur Tugade approved the pilot operations of motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.
“Inaasahang magsisimula ang pilot implementation ng motorcycle taxi operations, katuwang ang ride-hailing service na Angkas, sa unang bahagi ng Hunyo o isang buwan matapos lagdaan ni Secretary Tugade ang General Guidelines sa pilot implementation, at kasunod ng pagpapatupad ng naaayong public awareness campaign,” DOTr said.
“Sakop ng pilot implementation ang Metro Manila at Metro Cebu na magtatagal nang anim na buwan,” it added.
DOTr then reminded motorcycle taxi drivers and passengers to follow safety requirements like wearing helmet, reflectorized vest, and vest-based strap or belt.
It further reminded drivers of the 60 kilometers per hour speed limit, maintenance of motorcycle’s condition, and wearing of proper uniform.
“Mariin naming binabalaan ang mga ride-hailing service na sumunod sa safety requirements sa kanilang operasyon. Huwag ninyong sayangin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob namin sa inyo sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo publiko sa mga commuter,” Tugade said in the same statement.
“Pangunahing responsibilidad natin ang kaligtasan ng publiko. Kaya kapag pumalya kayo sa pamantayan natin, we will not have second thoughts on halting the pilot implementation,” he added.
Based on DOTr’s guidelines, flag down rate for Metro Manila motorcycle taxi will be at P50 for the first kilometer. An additional P10 to P15 will be charged for succeeding kilometers.
As for motorcycle taxis in Metro Cebu, P20 will be the charged for the first kilometer and an additional P16 to P20 will be charged for succeeding kilometers.
The DOTr guidelines to motorcycle taxi operations likewise compel motorcycle ride-hailing companies to submit a monthly report indicating passenger complaints and road crashes as well as travel distances and fares charged from passengers.
Around 27,000 riders from Metro Manila and Metro Cebu are anticipated to join the pilot implementation of motorcycle taxi operations, according to DOTr.
“Importante ang pilot implementation na ito upang ma-refine pa natin ang general guidelines, at masilip ang mga posibleng problema sa proseso o sa standards, nang sa gayon ay makatulong tayo sa pagbabalangkas ng batas na talagang akma sa mga pangangailangan at kaligtasan ng ating mga commuter,” DOTr Undersecretary Mark de Leon said in the same statement. /kga