Angkas presents comprehensive data from 1st pilot run
The Senate Committee on Public Services chaired by Senator Grace Poe called on the technical working group (TWG) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to suspend their earlier pronouncement to discontinue the three-month extension of the motorcycle taxi test run which was still supposed to end in March and lift the riders cap.
In a public hearing on Monday that tackled the legalization of motorcycle taxis, Sen. Poe urged the TWG to continue the pilot run in order to aid the Senate in getting data to craft the proper legislation that regulates motorcycle taxis in the country.
“In this panel, we are unanimous in our opinion that the study must continue. Isuspend niyo muna ang pagbuwag sa pilot run. We won’t come up with a meaningful and effective law without the pertinent studies,” Poe stressed. “Kaya pag kinansela ang programa, mas lalo nating di makukuha ang datos ng Angkas. Kung tinatamad kayo kumuha ng datos, pwede naman kayog pumunta sa PNP, HPG, at kumuha ng datos sa kanila,” she added.
Poe also called out TWG chairman Antonio Gardiola Jr., who announced the decision to halt the pilot run immediately prior to the Senate hearing, for the arbitrary pronouncement. “Naglabas kayo ng desisyon bago patayo nagkaroon ng konsultasyon. Hindi na ninyo kinonsidera ang talagang importanteng bagay dito na wala tayong alternatibo,” Poe stressed.
Poe also decried the riders cap that the TWG recently implemented. “We are rewarding them (Angkas) negatively by putting the cap,” Poe declared. “Naintindihan ko yung frustration ng Angkas dahil kayo ang nagtanim, kayo ang nagsaing, pero ni hindi kayo pinakain,” she added.
The senate hearing was also attended by other senators Ralph Recto, Win Gatchalian, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Joel Villanueva, Koko Pimentel, and Bato Dela Rosa.
Senator Ralph Recto, who also has a motorcycle taxi bill pending in the senate, also called out Gardiola for the summary changing of the TWG’s composition. “I want an explanation from Secretary Tugade bakit binago ang TWG,” Recto demanded. “At bakit maraming natanggal sa TWG at ni walang representasyon ang Senado?”
Recto also decried the apparent inefficiency of the TWG. “Bakit parang wala namang meetings ang TWG? At parang isa lang ang nagdidikta,” Recto asked. “Kaya na-TRO kayo kasi wala kayong public consultation,” he added.
Recto also disagreed with the plan of the TWG to blacklist Angkas as a motorcycle taxi service. “If you think the presentation of Angkas is good and promotes safety, why are you blacklisting them?” he questioned.
Recto then asked for a copy of all the minutes of the meetings the TWG, the data they were able to gather in the first test run, and all department orders and memos pertinent to the issues at hand.
Senator Win Gatchalian, in turn, asked Gardiola why the TWG made decisions without a comprehensive data as reference. “Ano nga ba ang basehan ng riders cap?” Gatchalian asked. “Patang legalized cartel
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