MANILA – Motorcycle ride-hailing firm Angkas will focus on passenger safety training during its supervised 6-month test run period, its regulatory head said Friday.

The pilot, approved by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), will study the viability of using motorcycle taxis as public utility vehicles, Angkas head of regulatory and public affairs George Royeca told DZMM radio.

“Magsasagawa po tayo ng isang malaking passenger information campaign para sa safety ng pasahero. Tama naman po, valid naman po ang point ng TWG (technical working group) condition na tuturuan niyo ang driver, paano naman ang pasahero,” Reyoca said.

(We will conduct a massive passenger information campaign for the safety of passengers. The TWG has a valid point when they said we've been training drivers, but how about the passengers?)

• Angkas is back under 6-month test of motorcycle taxi rules

Royeca said Angkas has a safety record of 99.7 percent. This test run is an opportunity to “fine tune” the safety parameters for motorcycle taxis, he said.

Seventy percent of the 100,000 driver hopefuls failed Angkas' mandatory safety training program, Royeca said. Currently, the motorcycle ride-hailing firm has 27,000 accredited drivers.

Transport authorities previously suspended Angkas over "safety" concerns.

Ride-hailing firm Grab Philippines said it was "optimistic" with the development. It previously launched GrabBike, which was suspended due to "regulatory challenges," its spokesperson Nicka Hosaka said in a statement.