Resumption of Pilot Study on Motorcycle Taxis Endorsed by IATF

Metro Manila mayors’ request to continue the pilot study on motorcycle taxis was endorsed by the IATF to the House of Representatives (HoR) Committee on Transportation. Signed on October 5 by Health Secretary and IATF chair Francisco Duque and Cabinet Secretary and Co-chairperson Karlo Nograles, IATF’s Resolution No. 77 included the recommendation to resume the pilot study on motorcycle taxis while waiting for the enactment of a law allowing it as another mode of public transpiration.

Last year, over concerns on safety and the service’s viability, the government started the pilot study on the use of motorcycle taxis. The pilot run was suspended in March 2020, ahead of the study’s expiration in April.

Meanwile,  ANGKAS and Joyride ride-hailing firms have lauded the IATF’s recommendation and said they are ready should motorcycle taxis be allowed to operate again.

“Kami ay taos pusong nagpapasalamat sa pamahalaan. Hopefully, Congress will decide to extend the pilot. Handa na po kami na magbigay serbisyo ulit sa taumbayan,” Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca said. To learn more about different health protocols, Royeca said Angkas has been working with the government and the University of the Philippines College of Public Health. Cashless transactions, digital contact tracing through its app, and the use of a plastic barrier between the rider and passenger are among the health protocols. Passengers will also be required to bring their own helmet and Angkas will not allow helmet sharing. “Number one po talaga ngayon ay safety so we want to be able to minimize points of transmission,” said Royeca who also shared that Angkas is working arrangements with the government to have their riders tested for COVID-19 under the expanded testing community program and the non-medical frontline category. While Angkas maintains delivery and shopping services, the resumption of the pilot study could add about 200,000 more rides per day to its operations according to Royeca.

Meanwhile, Noli Eala, JoyRide Vice President for Corporate Affairs, said they are eyeing to giving free helmets to passengers and added that they have begun implementing systems for cashless transaction.”Kami ay handa na maging meaningful partner ng pamahalaan para muling buhayin ang ekonomiya ng ating bansa,” Eala said. JoyRide also provides delivery and shopping services and bringing back motorcycle taxi services could help their workers displaced by the lockdown according to Eala.

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