While many are happy that motorcycle booking app Angkas will soon be back on the roads, one government department isn’t as ecstatic.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) were saddened by the decision of the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) yesterday to grant a preliminary injunction to the app.
In a joint statement released yesterday, the DOTr and the LTFRB said that safety and following the law is their priority. “Obviously, Angkas is just interested in making profit, and profit, alone,” they alleged.
“Apart from engaging in unfair business practice, the safety of patrons and commuters are also put at risk, as motorcycles are not considered as a safe mode of public transport.”
The preliminary injunction will prohibit the LTFRB and the DOTr “from interfering, whether directly or indirectly” with Angkas operations until a final ruling has been made.
The LTFRB suspended Angkas’ operations in November last year stating the app violated the Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, Rappler reported.
The DOTr and LTFRB’s thoughts are contrary to the sentiments of many commuters like 24-year-old Glenn who told Coconuts Manila today that he was pleased with the decision of the Mandaluyong City RTC court.
He even called it a “gamechanger.”
Glenn, who refused to reveal his last name for privacy, called the app a convenient and affordable transportation option.
“The price is always below PHP100 (US$1.85) and my time on the road would be cut to half essentially,” he said.
However, the DOTr and LTFRB said that the law has to be amended by legislators in order for Angkas to be able to offer public transport.
“Our position is that motorcycles registered in the service are not authorized to conduct business and offer public transport under Republic Act 4136. For them to be allowed, the law has to be amended by Congress.”
The Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code states that motorcycles cannot be classified as a public vehicle, like taxis and jeepneys which can collect fees, and that it can only be classified as private or government vehicles.
“If Angkas is to continue accrediting motorcycles registered as private vehicles to book rides and accept passengers for a fee, it is considered as without authority from the government regulators, and, therefore, are considered colorum vehicles,” the statement added.
They reiterated that they will “exhaust all legal remedies to ensure that our roads are cleared of colorum vehicles, such as Angkas motorcycles.”
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