Philippine motoride-sharing app seeks govt approval in bike taxi resumption

MANILA, Jun 20, 2020, The Manila Times. Angkas, the motorcycle ride-sharing app, urged the government to look into its proposed backpack shield that would be placed between its partner-drivers and the passenger as protection against the novel coronavirus disease, a company executive said, The Manila Times reported.

As workers continue to suffer from the lack of mass transportation, Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca was hopeful the government could study the firm’s proposal.

In a virtual briefing on Friday, the official said the protective shield, made of high-density plastic, would also be disinfected after every ride, Royeca said.

“The [coronavirus] pandemic has hit everybody and for the longest time moto-taxis are not allowed. We know where the government is coming from, but we are hopeful that we can stop the virus especially on the public transportation side where everybody converges and there is that high-risk,” he said.

Royeca said Angkas was keen on servicing company employees once it secures approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

On Thursday, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the government was studying the resumption of motorcycle taxis following the easing of quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and other areas.

In a separate advisory, JoyRide is also preparing for a possible resumption of operations. Its partner-drivers will be required to wear uniform blue raincoats, which can double as personal protective equipment.

Both JoyRide and Angkas said riders must bring their own helmet.

Due to the health crisis that started in mid-March, motorcycle taxi pilot runs were halted.

Binay’s concern

Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay expressed concern over the seemingly unsafe and poorly planned measures being implemented by the Department of Transportation (DoTr) for the commuting public at Efipanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

“This is not the time to stretch experiments. Improving mobility and maximizing space are important, but spending on costly experiments that we know are bound to fail is totally unnecessary lalo pa ngayong kapos sa pondo (…especially now that we lack funds),” the senator said.

Binay said chaos and travel miseries would continue to confront the commuting public under a general community quarantine (GCQ) or modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) until no holistic and realistic public transport plan is put in place.

She asked government transport executives if they had tried and tested the guidelines they have put in place under a GCQ.

“Sana try din nilang testingin ‘yung kanilang science projects sa EDSA — para kasing virtual experiment ang ginagawa sa mga mananakay. ‘Wag na po nating ipilit yung mga hilaw at minadaling plano sa EDSA, which places public safety as a secondary concern. ‘Di po EDSA ang classroom sa online learning (I hope they will try to test their science projects in EDSA — it seems that they are doing a virtual experiment on the commuters. We should not impose untested plans at EDSA which places public safety as a secondary concern. EDSA is not the classroom for online learning),” she stressed.

Binay also questioned the transport agency’s plan to place bus stops in the middle lane of EDSA, saying this would not only cause safety concerns for passengers but also needed infrastructure that would not be readily built.

“Papaano naman ‘yung mga pasahero? Saan sila tatawid para makapunta sa gitna ng EDSA? Lalo din papahirapan nito ang ating mga senior citizen at PWDs (What about the passengers? Where is the way to get into the middle of EDSA? This is an additional burden for our senior citizens and persons with disability). If DoTr genuinely believes that its plans were well-thought of, then we presume that they understand the hardships of commuters under MGCQ,” Binay said.

“What we see now are totally unrealistic and impractical transport plans. Our workers and the commuting public don’t deserve this kind of treatment. Ang nakakaloka, halos linggo-linggo ay may bagong ganap sa EDSA (It is crazy that almost every week there are activities in EDSA),” Binay said.

With reports from JAVIER JOE ISMAEL