Dubbed as #SaveAngkas Unity Gathering, thousands of biker-partners of ride-hailing firm Angkas troops along the stretch of White Plains Avenue up to the Edsa Kalayaaan Shrine, Quezon City on Sunday morning, December 22, 2019, to protest the government’s 10,000-biker cap per transport network company to be imposed next year for the extended pilot run.
INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The interagency technical working group (TWG) formed to study motorcycle taxis said on Monday it was open to easing the cap of 10,000 it had placed on drivers of Angkas, the popular motorcycle-hailing app that quickly mobilized in opposition to the new policy.
The TWG had earlier announced a three-month extension for its study — which is being done to determine whether motorcycle taxis should be legalized — as well as the entry of two new players, Move-It and Joy Ride, to avoid a monopoly on this service.
It also instituted a cap of 10,000 drivers for each company in Metro Manila and 3,000 in Cebu City. Angkas, which said it employed 27,000 riders, expressed concern that the policy would lead to the loss of thousands of jobs.
The TWG said on Monday that it would consider lifting the cap on Angkas if Move-It and Joy Ride were unable to reach 10,000 drivers by the first week of next year.
As of Monday, Joy Ride had 1,169 drivers registered with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), while Move-It had less than 1,000.
The TWG also said it would move for the cap to be implemented gradually, rather than begin enforcement yesterday, the start of the study’s extension period.
The study will run until March 23, 2020.
‘Overreacting’
The TWG also said, “The study is looking into the viability of motorcycles as taxi or PUV using real-time data from several riders and not just Angkas.”
“We are trying to avoid one company from achieving a monopoly.”
The group’s chair, Antonio Gardiola Jr., of the LTFRB, said for his part that Angkas should “stop deceiving the riders because no one is losing their jobs.”
“You are overreacting because you will have fewer riders, who now have the option to choose from among two additional providers for the interest of a fair and objective study,” Gardiola said.
“You are only after your business. Always put in mind that this is still a study.”
Angkas spokesperson George Royeca said, “Angkas is open to competition, because it is the best for the public.”
‘Chaos’
Ariel Inton of the Lawyers for Commuter Safety and Protection warned “there would be chaos on the streets” should thousands of Angkas riders return to the illegal “habal-habal” mode.
Royeca described “habal-habal” as being “unmonitored, uninsured, and lack[ing] proper gear and training.”
Should he be one of those to be displaced, Romeo Maglunsod said Angkas motorists would have no choice but “to go back… underground, driving habal-habal.”
“We joined Angkas because we want to earn a living legally. Now that we have proven ourselves, the government wants us to go illegal again?” he said.
Poe writes Delgra
Another Angkas rider, Ryan Rillera — who is also the president of the Taguig Spartans group of motorcycle riders — said even if they were free to choose a platform, they would rather stay on the present one.
“In my two years and ten months, it was in Angkas that I felt I am being valued. We are insured, we receive food pay at the end of the day,” he said.Sen. Grace Poe on Monday sent a letter to LTFRB chair, Martin Delgra III, to reconsider imposing a cap on Angkas motorists.
The senator also broached the idea of challenging the LTFRB directive before the courts.
“Maybe that would be a better move because it would be immediate. The Senate, even if it wants to, cannot hold a hearing since our sessions are adjourned,” she said.