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'Safer than a condom': Angkas says track record proves safety of motorcycle use

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/18/20181218_angkas.jpg"/><figcaption>Angkas offers ride-hailing and delivery services. <em>Photo: George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Motorcycle ride-hailing firm Angkas on Monday said riding its bikes is even &quot;safer than a condom&quot; after authorities started apprehending drivers in compliance with a recent Supreme Court order.</p><p>Launched in 2017, the country&#x27;s first on-demand motorcycle booking platform has a 99.997 percent safety record, Angkas head of Regulatory and Public Affairs George Royeca told ANC.</p><p>&quot;This is really an advocacy that we really have taken upon... We compared it to being safer than a condom actually. But kidding aside, this is something that has been proven, if you train your drivers,&quot; Royeca said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1396426" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier suspended the operations of Angkas citing its disapproval in the use of motorcycles in ride-sharing services due to safety concerns.</p><p>But Royeca said the problem in the Philippines is the lack of education when it comes to motorcycle use, not the vehicle type itself. In Angkas, only the best 25,000 drivers were on-boarded from over 70,000 drivers trained, he said.</p><p>When asked if the spat with transport authorities was pushing the firm to operate some place else, Royeca said Angkas is here to stay.</p><p>&quot;Angkas is here to solve a problem and to uplift the lives of Filipinos and I don’t think we can abandon 25,000 [drivers] and the millions more that need this, especially during this time. So no matter how discouraging this is, gusto namin makatulong sa taong bayan (we want to help people),&quot; he said.</p><p>Angkas has also urged the Supreme Court to decide in favor of Filipino commuters.</p><p>&quot;The people [have] spoken, it&#x27;s not so much what Angkas wants to do about what the public needs, and the public wants this more than anything else,&quot; he said.</p><p>On Dec. 12, the Supreme Court issued a <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/12/18/supreme-court-halts-court-order-that-favored-angkas-operations"><strong>temporary restraining order</strong></a> against a Mandaluyong Court decision that barred authorities from apprehending drivers operating under motorcycle-hailing firm Angkas.</p>

<p>Launched in 2017, the country's first motorcycle on-demand booking platform claimed it has a 99.997 percent safety record, Angkas head of Regulatory and Public Affairs George Royeca told ANC.</p>

Launched in 2017, the country's first motorcycle on-demand booking platform claimed it has a 99.997 percent safety record, Angkas head of Regulatory and Public Affairs George Royeca told ANC.