The government on Monday issued operational guidelines for the resumption of motorcycle taxi pilot study and tricycle back-riding.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases issued Memorandum Circular No. 03 s.2020, which intends to provide guidelines on minimum health and safety protocols to be observed by tricycles that will be accepting back-riders and motorcycle taxis following a systematic and coordinated approach in augmenting the public transport options for the commuting public while ensuring continue mitigation of COVID-19
Under the circular, all motorcycle taxi providers participating in the pilot study should ensure that all payments for riders are made via cashless channels.
The motorcycle taxi operators should also ensure that all drivers undergo the required COVID-19 testing and comply with the use of NTF-approved barriers between driver and passengers.
“We are here ready to work hand in hand with the government to ensure that we are fully compliant,” Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca said in a virtual press briefing.
“Angkas is ready. We will submit all our compliant requirements and hopefully [technical working group] can convene and start the discussion,” he said.
The technical working group of the Department of Transportation is set to convene next week to discuss the implementation of the guidelines for motorcycle taxis.
Besides Ankas, MoveIt and Joyride will be allowed to resume operations once they complied with the requirements.
The circular provides that all motorcycle taxi drivers participating in the pilot should be in good health condition prior to the accreditation by motorcycle taxi application providers as certified by public hospitals or DOH accredited clinics.
The drivers should also use their own helmet with full face visor closed at all times during the ride that serves the same function as face shields in public. They are also required to have an NTF-approved barrier between the driver and the passenger for the whole ride.
“All motorcycle taxi passengers must wear their own helmet with full face visor closed at all times during the ride that serves the same function as current duly required face shields in public,” the circular said.
“Wear a face mask completely covering the nose and the mount for the whole duration of the ride,” it said.
The pilot run for the motorcycle taxis lapsed on March 23 this year. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board allowed Angkas, Joyride and Move It to participate in the pilot test for motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.
The government imposed a cap of 63,000 bikers for the three players–45,000 bikers in Metro Manila, 9,000 in Cebu and 9,000 in Cagayan de Oro.
Angkas has 23,164 bikers in Metro Manila, 4,500 in Metro Cebu and 925 in Cagayan De Oro, while Joyride has 15,000 in Metro Manila, 4,488 in Metro Cebu and 198 in Cagayan de Oro.
Move It has 6,836 bikers in Metro Manila.