Mayor: Revoke licenses, franchises of ‘angkas’, ‘indrive’ users
Mayor Benjamin Magalong warned all taxi drivers using the InDrive Application, as well as motorcycle riders offering “angkas” for a fee saying he had recommended to agencies the revocation of licenses and franchises of those using these unauthorized schemes.
In a discussion with officials of the regional offices of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board and the Land Transportation Office on Feb. 10, the Local Government of Baguio recommended that the licenses of drivers caught using these unregulated practices should be revoked, and that the franchises of these taxi units be canceled.
The mayor had earlier asked LTFRB Cordillera Regional Director Lalaine Sobremonte to take action on the matter.
Sobremonte averred that the motorcycle angkas is not safe especially with Baguio’s uphill terrain.
In a Facebook post by LTFRB-CAR, the agency warned the public on the use of motorcycles operating as public utility vehicles in Baguio City.
“At present, there is no law allowing motorcycle taxis to ply the streets and carry commuters. Motorcycle taxis have yet to be officially legalized as a form of public transportation and are currently operating under a pilot study in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. To date, there are no authorized motorcycle taxi operators in the city of Baguio,” the LTFRB-CAR post reads.
“The riding public is urged to refrain from patronizing any individual and company providing motorcycle-for-hire services,” the agency stated.
Sobremonte added that the agency is still waiting for the House of Representatives to pass a law amending provisions of Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
Under the said law, registered private motorcycles, scooters, or motor wheel attachments shall not be used for hire under any circumstances and shall not be used to solicit, accept, or be used to transport passengers or freight for pay.
Private vehicles do not have a certificate of public convenience required from PUVs by the LTFRB before they can operate as public utility vehicles.
Meanwhile, the LTFRB also warned the public against patronizing the InDrive taxi app and Maxim which were recently declared as colorum for offering transport network vehicle service (TNVS) without any accreditation as transport network companies (TNC).
InDrive operates in Baguio, Bacolod, Pampanga, Cebu, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro and sets fare prices through real time bidding, with passengers giving a proposed fare and the driver making a counteroffer.
The mayor ordered the apprehension of violators. – Aileen P. Refuerzo/Jessa Mardy Samidan