Bike hailing firms welcomed the approval of the government to resume the pilot run for motorcycle taxis that would allow them to ferry passengers again and return to their livelihoods after months of hiatus.
In a statement on Friday, Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca vowed to provide a safe mode of transportation for commuters, especially with the reduced capacity in public transport at this time of the pandemic.
"Transportation is at the core of the reopening of the economy and it has always been the advocacy of Angkas to provide inclusive transportation safely to the public, especially at this time when 60 percent of the workforce need to go back to work and only 40 percent of public transport is available," Royeca said.
Meanwhile, motorcycle ride-hailing firm JoyRide also committed that it will comply with all health and safety protocols to be imposed by authorities and ensure that "the welfare of the commuters will always be our primordial interest."
"With the resumption of the motorcycle taxi services particularly during this very difficult time of the pandemic, JoyRide is confident that we will continue to provide safe, efficient, reliable, and affordable transport options for the riding public as well as livelihoods to our rider partners," Noli Eala, JoyRide Vice President for Corporate Affairs, said.
Both firms also thanked the government for its trust in allowing motorcycle taxi bikers, who have lost their jobs due to the health crisis, to return on the road and serve the riding public again.
Angkas, JoyRide, and another bike-hailing firm MoveIt have been allowed by the government to operate on a pilot study basis which was cut short as all modes of public transport including motorcycles-for-hire were suspended in March due to the health crisis.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced also on Friday that the IATF approved the resumption of the motorcycle taxi pilot study which will be implemented and monitored by the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 and the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The DOTr said that it is ready to implement the decision "anytime" once they received from the NTF the minimum health standards or guidelines needed for the reopening of motorcycle taxi operations.
The IATF had endorsed to the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation the request of Metro Manila mayors asking the DOTr to continue the pilot study of motorcycle taxis.
The House transportation committee, had also expressed its support in the continued pilot run pending a resolution that would legitimize motorcycle taxis as a form of public transportation.