By Alexandria Dennise San Juan and Allysa Nievera
The inter-agency technical working group (TWG) on motorcycle taxis explained that no riders will lose their job even as it implements the 10,000 cap per bike-hailing firm during the extended pilot run.
"Angkas" riders (RIO LEONELLE DELUVIO / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO)
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) member retired major general Antonio Gardiola, who also chairs the TWG, said commuters should even expect an "increase in the number of motorcycle taxi riders" in the streets as more riders will be taking part in the dry run.
The TWG made the clarification a day after Angkas protested against the 10,000 cap set by the TWG for each of three motorcycle transport network companies (TNCs) joining the extended pilot run, claiming that at least 17,000 Angkas riders will lose their jobs.
But the TWG hit back at Angkas, telling them not to "deceive" their riders.
"Please stop deceiving the riders kasi walang mawawalan ng trabaho (no one will lose their job), dinagdagan pa ng TWG ang (the TWG added to the) cap from 27,000 to 30,000," said LTFRB Board Member Antonio Gardiola said in a statement on Monday.
Gardiola said Angkas was over-reacting when it alleged there will be a dearth in the rides offered to the public. He pointed out that customers will have two other options, JoyRide and Move It.
He also said Angkas riders who would be displaced by the TWG-imposed cap could easily be absorbed by the two new players.
"You are over-reacting kasi mababawasan ang riders n’yo who now have the option to choose from among two additional providers for the interest of a fair and objective study," he said.
Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca earlier slammed the TWG's guidelines and said riders should not be forced to switch companies.
Gardiola said the pilot test run should be focused on the study.
"These three providers are instruments to run this study and not to run the affairs of TWG... It only appears na you are not interested on the study, rather you are focused kung ano ang kikitain nyo sa pag-aaral na ito (how much money you will make from this study)," he said.
"You are only after your business...always put in mind that this is still a study." he added. " we distribute the cap to three players so we will come up with a good study, hindi lang yung isa ang kinukuhana natin ng sample (and not just use one as the study sample)," he added.
Based on the TWG guidelines for the dry run released to reporters yesterday, a total of 30,000 riders for Metro Manila and 9,000 for Metro Cebu will join the pilot implementation.
Gardiola also explained that the pilot run is not about business or providing a livelihood to motorcycle taxi riders but about the study needed by the government to legalize bike-hailing firms as a form of public transportation.
Apart from this, the TWG pointed out that the inclusion of two other providers in the study will assure that the data gathered will not be "monopolized" by just one TNC, and that allowing other players in the motorcycle ride-hailing market will give commuters more choices.
Only Angkas was allowed to participate in the six months’ initial dry run that was supposed to end on Dec. 26, but due to lack of data gathered by the previous TWG, it approved the extension of the pilot implementation for three more months which started Dec. 23 and will run until March 23, 2020.
The result of the study will be submitted to Congress to aid them in crafting laws to legalize the operation of motorcycle taxis in the country.