The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Rose de la Cruz
The continuing rise of preference by Filipino commuters to motorcycle taxis (habal habal) now at 60 percent is because of the government’s dismal performance in improving the public transport system on account of bureaucratic hitches, budgetary constraints and its obvious bias for privately-owned cars.
A survey done by WR Numero Opinion Monitor, a research company, said awareness of Angkas is notably high at 48 percent recognizing the Angkas brand.
The study also pointed out that 45 percent of Filipino participants now use habal-habal for transportation, with 14 percent reporting regular usage and 11 percent using it two to four times weekly.
A recently published study by WR Numero reveals that 58 percent of Filipinos “agree with or strongly support” the legitimization of habal-habal, an unregulated motorcycle transport service.
Additionally, 78 percent of Filipinos favor having an advocate in Congress underscoring the significance of MC Taxis in the lives of Filipino commuters.
The survey covered Filipinos 18 years and older nationwide on the habal habal issue and found that Angkas was instrumental in bringing nationwide awareness and advocacy for the motorcycle sector, lifting out of poverty over 20,000 riders and their families.
Since its inception in 2016, Angkas tirelessly worked to dispel the misperception that MC taxis to ferry passengers are unsafe, proving that with proper training and education, motorcycle taxis can be a viable and safe alternative form of transportation. The company set new standards in line with its commitment to safety and reliability.
By 2019, Angkas had established its safety credentials with a remarkable 99.997 percent safety record, as presented in multiple court and congressional hearings, according to news reports.
This success led to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) forming a technical working group (DOTr-TWG) to pilot a feasibility study on MC Taxis, with Angkas and 2 other players participating.
Angkas led by George Royeca, co-founder and current CEO, has weathered several threats of termination from regulatory authorities and skepticism on its safeness. Royeca addressed these concerns by implementing rigorous biker training and promoting excellent service delivery to ensure safety and viability.
To date, over 50,000 motorcycle drivers have been lifted out of poverty through Angkas and its welfare initiatives like reliable loan programs, benefits, and incentives that formalized the once-informal habal-habal sector.
The strong support (58%) for legitimizing habal-habal riders underscores the success of Royeca and Angkas in advocating for the inclusion of the informal sector in the country’s labor force and in offering commuters a safe, quick, and comfortable transport experience.
Currently, Congress is working on regulatory laws for MC Taxis, structured according to the TWG’s recommendations.