Motorbike-based taxis have been officially declared as illegal in the Philippines, after a pilot run to test its practicality and safety as public transportation ends ahead of schedule, according to a statement by the transportation official-in-charge to ABS-CBN today.
Overseen by a technical working group under the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the “pilot run” itself was supposed to be extended until March 2020. It involved three ride-hailing companies that offer motorbike-based services: Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It.
The technical working group submitted its statement to the Congress, urging the DOTr Secretary and the Congress “to immediately terminate the implementation of the pilot study,” according to a letter addressed to Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade.
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The enforcement of the ban, however, has not yet been declared, according to Antonio Gardiola Jr., a member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
“A week from now, we can start enforcement,” he said.
The letter itself asserted that the study will not be able to produce or gather comprehensive data for analysis and evaluation. It cited Angkas’s “deliberate questioning and arrogant defiance” against the guidelines set by the working group as the reason why.
With that being said, Angkas, its parent company DBDOYC, and its incorporators will also be blacklisted, according to a DOTr recommendation.
As a ride-hailing company, Angkas gained popularity in the Philippines for providing cheaper ride-hailing services and faster commute through Manila’s highly traffic-congested areas.
The news of termination comes after Angkas bikers took to the streets to protest the government’s decision to cut motor taxis from 27,000 to 10,000.
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