Wunder, Angkas told to stop operations

MANILA (UPDATED) – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday asked app-based transportation services Wunder and Angkas to stop operations for failing to coordinate with authorities.

Wunder, a carpool service and Angkas, which uses motorcycles, should "stop all bookings" or the government will be “constrained to take legal actions,” LTFRB said a statement.

In a statement Friday, Wunder said they are dedicated to working with government agencies to help solve traffic congestion in the metro.

"Wunder is dedicated to working with local agencies to provide citizens tools to solve the problem of traffic in Metro Manila," the statement read.

"Over 200,000 people coordinate rides everyday to the office without adding a single car to the road," it added.

Last year, the government suspended new applications for Uber and Grab pending a review of policies on ride-sharing services.

On Saturday, Uber released a clarification regarding the launch of their uberCOMMUTE service, similar to carpooling.

"To clarify the misperception that Uber failed to coordinate with the LTFRB prior to the launch of uberCOMMUTE, prompting said agency to issue a cease and desist memo on social media, Uber advised the LTFRB of uberCOMMUTE on two separate occasions," Uber said in a statement.

They explained that last November 14, 2016, they sent a letter to the LTFRB, Department of Transportation and the Metro Manila Development Authority to inform said agencies of uberCOMMUTE.

"Following its launch, a position paper was then submitted on December 5 upon the verbal request of Chairman Delgra to Uber, relayed during the ASEAN Transport Minister’s Summit in PICC.
Uber is happy to provide said documents once again in the event that these have been overlooked," Uber added.

App-based transportation services are popular in urban centers in the country, especially in Metro Manila, where traffic jams are a daily occurrence for its 12 million residents.