Lawmaker takes up cudgels for Angkas
Credit to Author: Divina Nova Joy Dela Cruz| Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 17:03:06 +0000
Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, chairman of the House of Representatives’ transportation committee, urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to allow Angkas to operate and not cut the number of its riders.
He made the call after a technical working group (TWG) composed of representatives of transportation agencies cut the number of Angkas riders from 27,000 to 10,000 to open the ride-hailing market to new players Move-It and Joy Ride.
Sarmiento said the LTFRB should consider the effect of its decision on passengers.
“Cutting the number of motorcycle taxis under Angkas will economically dislocate thousands of Angkas riders and would certainly deny commuters a well-tested alternative transport especially at a time when Metro Manila’s traffic is getting worse every day,” he said.
“My concern is simple. If we stop this, people will complain. The people are suffering. They are stalled for four hours in the morning and another four hours in the evening due to congested traffic,” Sarmiento said in a radio interview on Sunday.
“Until the efficiency of the mass transport has been fixed, we need to support the industry, the sector that is helping the people to reach their destinations the easiest way possible. We cannot stop this because the people and the passengers will complain,” the lawmaker added.
Sarmiento also said that new market players must undergo the same process of accreditation like Angkas before being allowed to conditionally operate to ensure that their riders are properly trained.
He added that his committee would try to fast track the deliberations of at least 15 bills that are related to the operation of motorcycle taxis.