RAMIREZ
Grab, Uber and Angkas are testaments to government’s failure to foresee transportation needs of the riding public.
With all the whacking on the app based transportation hailing service also known as Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) these fast few days, I was not expecting another brave soul to come up with a version for two-wheeled vehicle despite what Grab and Uber are experiencing from government regulators.
The internet based transportation hailing service for motorcycle known as Angkas made its debut late last month and was warmly received by the habal-habal riding community because of the ease and improvement the company has introduced to counter the issues against the operation of paid motorcycle commuting.
Based on a Cebu Daily News article published last July 29, an accredited driver of Angkas will have to pass a series of test, skills assessment program and personality background check for about three months before they will be registered in the program.
As a value added service, the report said passengers will be given instruction on how to properly ride to lessen the chances of accident and would also be provided with helmets, hair cap, dust mask and rain coat whenever it is raining.
To eliminate haggling that often results to arguments, passengers are given a figure for their fare right after they booked. A flag down rate of P20 for the first kilometer and P10 for the succeeding kilometer based on the pickup point and the destination of the passenger.
To address the issue on safety, Angkas claimed that they have P200,000 accident insurance for both the driver and passenger and accredited drivers are not allowed to go beyond 60 kilometers per hour speed when ferrying a client.
Inarguably, these self-imposed regulations enhanced the image of paid motorcycle commuting, but did not changed the fact that it is still illegal and must be stopped by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Like Grab and Uber whose services are hailed highly by the riding public as more efficient and convenient than the conventional government approved public transport, Angkas owners will surely use this argument in pushing for leniency until the law that prohibits two-wheeled vehicle for public transport will undergo amendments.
Philosopher Plato said necessity is the mother of invention and where the government fails to foresee and provide the need of its constituents, they themselves would innovate in order to come up with mechanism to cope up with the challenges of life.
The proliferation of alternative transport system that are considered outlawed flourished because of the failure of the government to anticipate the transportation need of the public and its continued refusal to act on the problem despite being barraged with complaints.