Angkas launches free motorcycle ambulance service
AngkasBuhay opens applications for volunteers
Traffic is fatal — in more ways than one.
The sights and sounds of ambulances, sirens blaring, inching by while stuck in the daily traffic jam, are all too common, meanwhile families wait in agony as their loved ones expire, or risk further complications, for want of urgent medical attention.
It’s a tragic reality for the Philippines, where there’s no such lifeline against killer traffic.
But what if Angkas could change all that? The fastest-growing motorcyclehailing app service in the Philippines has launched its most ambitious endeavor yet.
Touted as AngkasBuhay, the very first motorcycle ambulance service in the country is about to revolutionize emergency first response. On the occasion of their inaugural Safety Fiesta held at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal last November 25, Angkas Founder and CEO Angeline Tham, debuted the customized motorcycle with medical equipment installed and with a kit full of supplies — christened the “ambucycle.”
Model-hosts Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez, who stood as the brand ambassadors of Angkas during the event led the ceremonial unveiling of AngkasBuhay, the first program of its kind in the country. The groundbreaking ambulance service is intended to dramatically cut down the arrival time of help, and for trained volunteers to speedily administer on-the-spot first aid for emergency cases, or transport doctors to the critically ill.
Calling for volunteers to join up, Angeline invited the near-4,000 new applicants at their grand onboarding event, as well as their existing fleet, to be part ofthe first 1,000 drivers they are looking to train as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
A pilot program in cooperation with Our Lady of Guadalupe Colleges (OLGC), and Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center (VRP) in Mandaluyong City, Angkas Buhay will be conducting an intensive training course for Emergency Medical Technician (EMTcertified) drivers.
From being at death’s door, AngkasBuhay’s qualified EMT-drivers will knock at your door and stabilize your condition using life-saving techniques until secondary transport gets there. Expected to roll-out towards mid-2019 as soon as trainings and preparations are done, AngkasBuhay will be accessible through in-app “Emergency” button, similar to booking a ride,to matchthe EMT-driver nearest the patient’s location.
Another challenge worthy of Angkas which has been beating the traffic since 2017, AngkasBuhay applies the same principles for fast, safe, and convenient transport, to a public service, where mere minutes can spell the difference between life and death.
Just like the real-life emergency scenarios it is meant to address, the idea behind AngkasBuhay was in response to fateful real-life events. Giving the background and inspiration of AngkasBuhay with a showcase of the prototype “ambucycle” and geared-up driver, Angelineshared that more than the platform’s latest project in support of public safety, AngkasBuhay hits close to home for them.
Last September 3, PO1 Berlino L. Ricafort in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City was badly hurt in a violent encounter on his routine beat, and if not for the heroic rescue of Angkas partner-driver Francis C. Belecario, the wounded patroller might have taken a turn for the worse.
Receiving a commendation by the Cebu City PNP, Francis was cited for invaluable service to the community and his courage in the face of an emergency, but little did he know, his actions planted the seed for AngkasBuhay to sprout.
This was an eye-opener for Angeline who admitted that the incident was a turning point for Angkas.“We started out with one mission, to help commuters beat the traffic, and for many, that is a lifesaver. Then we realized that we could go further as a public service, not only taking passengers where they need to go, but to hasten the arrival of medical attention for those needing urgent care,” she revealed.
Opening the floor for questions, Angkas Operations Head David Medrana echoed the call to join the ranks of their elite EMT team. In turn, OLGC College Administrator Mr.Vincent Mark P. Vergelde Dios also welcomed the pioneer initiative on behalf of affiliate VRP, remarking that after completing EMT-training in 3-6 months, EMT-drivers would be all set to save lives as the new breed of safety champions on the road.
Metro Manila Development Committee Chair Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo sent a message that was read during the program, commending the “ambucycle” for its civic-oriented innovation: “We have seen how commuters have benefitted from the safe, affordable, and convenient mode of transportation offered by the platform, and now we can also depend on Angkas to extend another valuable public service.”
Angkas' civic-oriented innovations also received the vocal support of transport-sector allies such as lawenforcement and regulatory agencies NCRPO Deputy Regional Director for AdministrationPolice Chief Superintendent Amando Clifton Empiso, Provincial Director of the Rizal PNP Police Senior Superintendent Lou F. Evangelista, and LTO Law Enforcement Service Director Francis Ray A. Almora.
Angeline closed the program by returning to their larger brand advocacy for safety: “Angkas is steering 14 million motorcycle drivers to a safe and professional livelihood,and now with AngkasBuhay, the platform can also be a means for saving lives.”
Since 2017, Angkas has sponsored free driver education for 60,000 motorcycle drivers,with 20,000 active drivers in their fleet across three urban hubs in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro.