Angkas, Joyride allowed to operate

MANILA, Philippines — Motorcycle taxi ride-hailing services Angkas and Joyride were allowed yesterday to temporarily operate in Metro Manila, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.

Each firm was given a provisional authority to operate from Nov. 24 to Dec. 9 by the motorcycle taxi technical working group (TWG) “pending confirmation of compliance to pending operational requirements,” DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran said.

The two firms were authoritized to operate under the extended motorcycle taxi pilot study, which a transport official said may last three to six months.

The study, started in June last year, allowed motorcycle taxis to operate legally for the government to gather data to determine the viability of motorcycles as a safe mode of public transportation.

Angkas, Joyride and MoveIt took part in the study, which was supposed to end in April but was cut short by the COVID-related lockdown in March.

Both Angkas and JoyRide will still have to comply with guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19, issued by the National Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Among these guidelines is the mandatory use of thermal scanners to detect if a passenger has fever.

Angkas, for its part, will also have to comply with the provision of insurance for both rider and passenger in case of accidents.

Once Angkas and JoyRide are able to fully comply with the requirements, a certificate of compliance shall be issued to them by the TWG.

“The provisional authority is valid only until Dec. 9. So they need to address the pending concerns before that,” Libiran said.

“The TWG can issue the certificate of compliance before their provisional authority expires in case they can complete as soon as possible the requirements. The certificate of compliance will give them authority to operate during the pilot study,” she added.

Libiran said MoveIt has yet to send a letter to the TWG signifying its compliance, which is why no schedule of inspection has been set at the moment.

“We’re hoping they can submit it as soon as possible,” she said. – Emmanuel Tupas