After months of waiting, commuters can now use motorcycle ride-hailing apps as an alternative mode of transportation after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) allowed the pilot run for the motorcycle taxis to resume.
Beginning Nov. 23, motorcycle taxis from three participating groups — Angkas, Move It, and JoyRide — can ply the roads once again, provided they comply with the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)-National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19.
According to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working (TWG) met with the three participating firms last Nov. 19 and informed them of the requirements and regulations needed for the resumption of the study.
The TWG is composed of representatives from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (i-ACT), and the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP HPG).
The resumption of motorcycle taxi operations will likely last three to six months, similar to the initial pilot run that started in 2019. March, the study was abruptly halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a news report on GMA’s “24 Oras,”Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran briefly discussed the measures mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) before giving motorcycle taxis the green light to operate.
“Unang-una doon kailangan siyempre ‘yung kanilang mga motorcyle taxi riders ay nag-undergo ng swab tests, siyempre ready din sila sa barriers, ‘yung pag-implement ng cashless transactions, and ‘yung bring your own helmet policy,” Asec. Libiran said.
One week before the resumption, ride-hailing companies stepped up in their efforts to have their fleet of riders undergo swab tests. Angkas said it has successfully tested 6,400 riders, while Move It and JoyRide have tested 1,000 of its riders.