Angkas to suspend operations on Nov. 18, apologizes to LTFRB, public

Motorcycle-hailing app Angkas will officially suspend its operations starting Saturday, Nov. 18, a few weeks after the company was ordered closed for operating without a business permit.

Angeline Tham and David Medrana of Angkas wrote to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulator Board (LTFRB) on Thursday informing the board and the riding public that they will suspend Angkas operations in Metro Manila starting Nov. 18.

“We are using these remaining days to send out the proper communications to our partners and to discuss how we can continue to support them moving forward,” Tham and Medrana wrote.

They also apologized to the LTFRB and the public for the inconvenience they may have caused, adding that they welcome measures the government will take in regulating new means of transportation.

But they said they “honestly (did) not know where or with what agency we needed to apply.”

Angkas stressed that the company only wanted to provide a “professional and safe way to ride motorcylces as a taxi service.”

“We give our bikers safety and customer service training, and all rides are covered by personal accident insurance for driver and passenger. We also require bikers to pass background checks, skills, assessment exams and hold professional driver licenses,” the officials added.

They also sought for a meeting with the LTFRB to “share more about Angkas, to understand more of LTFRB’s plans for modernization and regulation.”

Last Nov. 9, Angkas asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to consider amending Department Order 2015-11 to allow two-wheeled vehicles under the transport network vehicle service (TNVS) category.

This was after the office of Makati City Mayor ordered the Angkas office closed for operating without permit. /je