Well, the good news is that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has extended the Angkas pilot run until March 23, 2020, giving both partner-riders and passengers several months of extra reprieve from our country’s car-infested roadways.
The bad news? The agency is now limiting the number of motorcycle ride-hailing units to just 10,000 per company within Metro Manila, and 3,000 for operators in Metro Cebu. The move severely handicaps Angkas’s current operations, as the company employs over 27,000 riders.
In the company’s own words: “17,000 families. Think about that.”
“Coming into this pilot, 27,000 ang bikers namin, many of whom have been with us serving you, the public, since 2017,” the company said in a statement released over social media. “Sila ay mga beterano, mga magagaling na bayaning matagal niyo nang pinagkakatiwalang itawid kayo sa pang-araw-araw na perwisyo ng traffic.
“Ngayon, sa halip na kami ay dagdagan, nagpasya ang LTFRB na bawasan pa ang Angkas bikers mula 27,000 hanggang 10,000 na lamang. That’s a compromise to the quality of service you can expect, and a direct blow to over 17,000 Filipino families.”
You can read the whole statement in the Facebook post below:
If the LTFRB’s new rider limit stays in place, Angkas regulars will no doubt have a noticeably more difficult time booking rides. Naturally, commuters are not happy. Check out some of their reactions on social media:
What’s you take on the matter? Do you think the LTFRB’s new limit is justified? Let us know what you think in the comments.
