Angkas obtains restraining order against LTFRB

App-based motorcycle taxi service provider Angkas secured a 20-day injunction from the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against the riders cap imposed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board that limited the number of its  bikers to 10,000 in Manila and 3,000 in Cebu. 

The QC RTC Branch 223 issued a temporary restraining order enjoining the LTFRB  from implementing the riders cap for a period of 20 days, citing “irreparable injury that would be suffered by the bikers if the number of  bikers is limited to 30,000 in Metro Manila and 9,000 for Metro Cebu, to be divided equally among the providers, is not restrained and considering the urgency of the situation.”  

The Technical Working Group of the LTFRB, which was overseeing the implementation of the pilot program for motorcyle taxis, issued on December 19 the revised guidelines practically slashing the number of the 27,000 Angkas bikers to 10,000 in Metro Manila.  

This was met with uproar by netizens and commuters who have come to rely on Angkas for their daily commute.

The QC TRO also affirmed the stand that several congressmen as well as the Philippine Competition Committee took in previous weeks.

In an earlier statement, House Committee on Transportation chair Edgar Sarmiento aired his concern about the suspension of motorcycle taxi services. 

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, earlier slammed the LTFRB for its arbitrary decision to drastically reduce the number of bikers of the ride-hailing firm Angkas, calling it an anti-consumer and anti-competitive behavior. 

PCC had said that forcing Angkas to displace 17,000 riders would take away what was rightfully obtained by the company.

A Mandaluyong court on Jan. 6, 2020 issued a 72-hour temporary restraining order in favor of Angkas, temporarily barring the DOTr and the LTFRB from implementing a rider cap of 30,000 for Metro Manila and 9,000 in Metro Cebu.