Angkas proposes safe riding measures for moto taxis

MANILA: Angkas, the pioneering app-based motorcycle taxi ride-hailing service, recently proposed advanced safety and health measures to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

In an online press conference conducted last Friday, Angkas Chief Transport Advocate George Royeca said that the company's  proposed safety and health protocols are aimed at helping the government curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Furthermore, the goal of these measures is to promote safer motorcycle taxi services and to lighten the burden of commuters in light of limited public transportation options and capacity.

One of these measures is a plastic shield that runs the length of the upper body, which is seen to help minimize the transmission of the virus. This is provides an additional protective layer that will supplement other safety equipment like the wearing of one's own face mask, face shield, and helmet, along with proper hand disinfection.

Another aspect of the Angkas proposal is making motorcycle taxis similar to a shuttle service having pre-registered passengers for specific companies. Royeca added that all bikers would undergo regular COVID-19 testing as well.

He also explained that the database of pre-registered passengers would assist in guaranteeing efficient contact tracing for people who might be positive for COVID-19 in the future. He also said that, currently, Angkas has four million users whose names can be added to the contact tracing database of the government.

The Angkas advocate also hopes that the DOH and IATF will keep track of the results and recommend measures that can benefit both motorcycle taxis and private motorcycles.

According to Royeca, if the medical specialists and the government will approve the design of the plastic shield, they will commit to producing the final shield design mold for the public for free.

Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo declared in the same forum that the safety and health measures that Angkas has presented are more than sufficient to significantly guarantee that both riders and passengers remain safe from COVID-19 transmission.

This was in line with her earlier statement for the government to resume motorcycle taxi operations to help relieve the burden of employees faced with limited public transportation options. Moreover, this will also help motorcycle drivers get back their livelihood since quarantine restrictions have been eased in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Dean of the UP Manila College of Public Health Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario reiterated Congressman Castelo’s request. He explained that people cannot wait for a vaccine to come out before allowing the resumption of operations for motorcycle taxis.

Dr. Belizario added that the country has been suffering from an inadequacy of prospects to earn a living, and this is coupled by the shortage of public transport opportunities during the community quarantine.

He also noted that after discussing and consulting with a medical expert regarding the safety of motorcycle taxis, the probability of being infected with COVID-19 while riding a motorcycle in the open air is less compared to staying in an enclosed air-conditioned room.

Councilor and former Quezon City Representative Winnie Castelo also reiterated the other panelists’ call for allowing the resumption of motorcycle taxis, stressing that employees do not need to risk themselves by trying to ride crowded jeeps or buses, which may increase the risk of acquiring the virus.

Photos from Angkas

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