Angkas

Angkas is a Singaporean-owned company conceptualized by its founder and CEO Angeline Tham sometime in 2015 after she claimed that she got late for several meetings after spending six hours in traffic.[2] DBDOYC Inc. was set up as Angkas's operator.[3]

The legality of Angkas' operation has been challenged by the government. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LFTRB) suspended Angkas' operation in November 2017 over lack of a business permit and safety concerns regarding the usage of motorcycles in ride-sharing services.[4] This led to Angkas to introduce parcel delivery service dubbed as "Angkas Padala" in December 2017.[5] LFTRB's move was still challenged by Angkas before the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court which made a decision on August 20, 2018 which barred LFTRB from arresting Angkas drivers. Angkas resumed operations the following month.[4]

In December 2018, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order which put on hold the implementation of the Mandaluyong court's decision.[4] Despite of the high court's TRO, Angkas continued operations risking its drivers to arrest since it believe that the ruling didn't concern the legality of the company's operations itself.[6]

The government through the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced in May 2019 that it would provisionally allow Angkas to operate again.[7] Pilot operations of Angkas' motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu were allowed by the government for six months from June 2019 so the firm's operation could be monitored by the state[8] as part of a study regarding the legality of motorcycles as public utility vehicles.

During the pilot operations, Angkas would be serviced by its 27,000 riders and could not add more motorcycles to its fleet.[9]

The pilot operations which was originally set to end on December 26, 2019 was extended by the technical working group of the DOTr until March 23, 2020 with the inclusion of two competitors, JoyRide and Move It. A cap of 30,000 riders in Metro Manila and 9,000 riders in Metro Cebu was imposed with the allocation of riders equally shared between the three motorcycle taxi service providers. Angkas would have to cut down its fleet of 27,000 riders to comply with the cap. Angkas in response sought a temporary restraining order from the Quezon City Trial Court against the imposition of the cap. It withdrew its bid in January 2020 after DOTr's technical working group increased the cap for of Metro Manila riders to 45,000.[10]

Angkas riders in Metro Manila

Angkas has over 20,000 drivers as of November 2019, which were drawn from a pool of 60,000 applicants who were provided free training from the company. Applicant drivers are subjected to test by the company which includes on how to use the Angkas mobile app, and accomplishing an obstacle course.[11]

Prior to the crackdown of the government in late 2018, Angkas provides its services in Metro Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos.[11] As of October 2019, Angkas is available in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. There are plans to introduce the service in Davao City and Batangas City, and resume operations in Cagayan De Oro.[3]