Fate of bike taxis drift
The coronavirus pandemic not only exposed the nation’s problematic health care system but it also pulled the curtain back on class divide and revealed how wide the gaps are. While most people stand still to help curb the local transmission of the virus, it’s business as usual for many blue-collar workers like motorcycle taxi drivers — that is, if they haven’t been laid off.
Motorcycle taxis recently gained prominence as an alternative mode of transportation because of its ability to “beat the traffic” in congested areas like Metro Manila.
However, Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which was enacted five decades ago, mandated that motorcycles can only be registered as private or government vehicles. Therefore, it can’t be used by owners to carry passengers and be paid for it.
The government, thus, approved a motorcycle taxi pilot run — with Angkas, JoyRide, and MoveIt joining the study — in aid of legislation in Congress to evaluate pending bills that would legalize the operation of motorcycles as public utility vehicles (PUV).
But before legislators could even begin processing the data from the study, the motorcycle taxi industry seemed to have hit a dead-end when COVID-19 began upending the normal course of the country weeks ahead of its 23 March deadline.
Jeffrey Mostajo, 32, was almost pushed out of the motorcycle taxi workforce. He said he wished he could be working more, not less even if he doesn’t feel safe doing so yet because his family of five needs the income.
“I was jobless for a few weeks after COVID-19 outbreak started because back-rides have been prohibited. I only got lucky when we were eventually allowed to go back on the road by delivering orders from our partner restaurants,” Mostajo told the Daily Tribune.
Innovative options
With the fate of the so-called two-wheeled ride-hailing firms in limbo, business operators and partner drivers have activated their contingency plans to cushion the impact of the health crisis. But this, they said, could only do much as they would still need the government’s support to future-proof the industry.
Angkas, the country’s bike taxi pioneer, has transformed into a delivery service provider while back-riders are still not allowed due to strict health protocols.
“It’s been very hard for Angkas and our bikers in this COVID-19 situation because our core business is providing transportation service but we are still hoping to get our transportation safety back,” Angkas chief transportation advocate George Royeca told the Daily Tribune.
He said food delivery from restaurants still makes up the lion’s share of Angkas’ new business model but the pandemic has highlighted other segments of the on-demand delivery industry. This prompted them to roll out a “pabili” service in partnership with pharmacies, malls, supermarkets, and hardware stores within Metro Manila.
Despite the struggles of trying to make ends meet, Royeca said Angkas was still able to forge a “massive undertaking” between the government and the private sector to boost COVID-19 testing capacity.
Dislocated riders
Meanwhile, newcomer JoyRide has also converted its ride-hailing business into a multi-service mobile delivery app to generate jobs for displaced riders.
In a separate interview, JoyRide Vice President for Corporate Affairs Noli Eala disclosed that the company is looking to further expand its reach through the tricycle migration program.
Joyride has launched a project to migrate tricycle drivers into “independent delivery service providers” in cooperation with several local government units (LGU).
The program aims to provide alternative sources of income to tricycle drivers who have been adversely affected by the quarantine protocols while expanding the rider base of Joyride and sister firm HappyMove.
“Our program is now ongoing in Antipolo City, Valenzuela City, Bacoor City, and Binangonan, Rizal. Several LGU are also now in the pipeline for future inclusion in the tricycle program. Joyride will continue to expand its delivery service platform as part of our shift in our business model,” Eala told the Daily Tribune.
Despite calls to lift motorcycle taxi ban, Malacañang recently warned that show cause orders may be issued against LGU that failed to implement the “no back ride” policy among motorcycle riders.
Motorcycle taxis recently gained prominence as an alternative mode of transportation because of its ability to “beat the traffic” in congested areas like Metro Manila I was jobless for a few weeks after COVID-19 outbreak started because back-rides have been prohibited