Angkas CEO George Royeca (center, in white) (Angkasangga Party-list)

George Royeca, the chief executive officer (CEO) of popular ride-hailing app Angkas, has formalized his bid for a House seat Saturday, Oct. 5 under the new party-list, "Angkasangga". 

In a statement, Royeca's camp said it aims to "extend the advocacy and transformative initiatives that Angkas has been known for, primarily focusing on the empowerment and upliftment of the informal sector in the Philippines". 

The party-list's name is a portmanteau of Angkas and "Kasangga", which is the Filipino word for partner or comrade.

"Our journey with Angkas has shown us the immense potential and resilience of the Filipino informal sector," Royeca said in a statement during his filing Saturday, which coincided with a gathering of supporters at the Cuneta Astrodome. 

"Through Angkasangga, we aim to bring this spirit into the halls of Congress, advocating for laws and policies that ensure their recognition, protection, and development," he said. 

George Royeca (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Angkas had revolutionized the local transportation industry by providing safe, efficient, and reliable motorcycle taxis, while simultaneously offering countless Filipinos a viable income opportunity and inclusion in the formal economy. 

The party-list's core advocacy encompasses crafting and pushing for legislation that will formalize the informal sector, and provide a framework for their legal recognition and protection; enhance social security measures, and ensure that workers have access to healthcare, pension, and other benefits; promote skill development and financial literacy, and enable a pathway for socioeconomic mobility; and foster an inclusive economic environment that recognizes the informal sector as a pivotal component of the national economy. 

More than 5,000 supporters attended the grand gathering of Angkasangga. The event was graced by their staunch advocates like Vice Ganda, Senator JV Ejercito, Isko Moreno, and members of biker organizations.