DOTr allows motorcycle ride-hailing firm Angkas to legally operate
by Robie de Guzman | Posted on Friday, May 10th, 2019
MANILA, Philippines – Motorcycle ride-hailing company Angkas may now operate legally in the country beginning next month, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Friday.
After months of public clamor, motorcycle taxis can start picking up passengers again without fear of apprehension.
In a statement, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said he had approved the pilot operations of motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu from June until the end of 2019.
“Inaasahang magsisimula ang pilot implementation ng motorcycle taxi operations, katuwang ang ride-hailing service na Angkas, sa unang bahagi ng Hunyo o isang buwan matapos lagdaan ni Secretary Tugade ang General Guidelines sa pilot implementation, at kasunod ng pagpapatupad ng naaayong public awareness campaign,” he said.
However, Tugade clarified that the operation is just a test run for six months to help lawmakers finalize proposals on motorcycle ride booking.
“Importante ang pilot implementation na ito upang ma-refine pa natin ang general guidelines, at masilip ang mga posibleng problema sa proseso o sa standards, nang sa gayon ay makatulong tayo sa pagbabalangkas ng batas na talagang akma sa mga pangangailangan at kaligtasan ng ating mga commuter,” Tugade said.
He also reminded motorcycle taxi drivers to follow safety requirements, like wearing helmet and reflectorized vest; observing the 60-kilometer per hour speed limit and maintenance of motorcycle’s condition.
“Mariin naming binabalaan ang mgaride-hailing servicena sumunod sasafety requirements sa kanilang operasyon. Huwag ninyong sayangin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob namin sa inyo sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo publiko sa mga commuter,” Tugade said.
The management of Angkas and its over 27,000 motorcycle units have welcomed the good news.
“We are very happy that Secretary Tugade is looking into this… We will definitely provide all the necessary updates on the application and also on the information campaign to the public,” said George Royeca, the head of Angkas regulatory and public affairs.
Angkas’ operation was suspended in November 2017 by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for operating without business permit and violating the land transportation and traffic code.
Angkas challenged the suspension order before the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court, which issued a preliminary injunction against the order in September 2018.
After it resumed operations, the Supreme Court issued in December a temporary restraining order against Mandaluyong court ruling, suspending Angkas’ operations. (with details from Joan Nano)
by Robie de Guzman | Posted on Friday, July 19th, 2019
MANILA, Philippines – Hatchback-type and sub-compact cars will now be allowed to operate as transport network vehicle service (TNVS) units, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Friday.
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade signed the department order which was announced by Transport Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran to media.
“Sec. Tugade signs the Department Order permanently allowing hatchbacks and sub-compact cars as TNVS units,” Libiran told reporters in a message.
A copy of the order has yet to be furnished to the media.
The formal signing of the department order follows Tugade’s directive on Thursday for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to implement its Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2018-005, which allows hatchback units to operate as public transport on certain conditions.
Tugade issued the instruction following complaints from stakeholders on the matter.
“Kung kailangang baguhin ang ilang dokumento, baguhin. Kung kailangang i-improve, dapat i-improve,” Tugade said in a statement.
DOTr TO LTFRB: IMPLEMENT MC; ALLOW HATCHBACKS, DELISTED TNVS TO OPERATE ANEWDepartment of Transportation (DOTr)…
Under MC 2018-005, all accredited hatchback units shall be allowed to operate as public transport provided that they only operate during the transition period of three (3) years, only in Metro Manila, and charge a lower fare.
However, only hatchback units that were among the 55,000 units in the masterlist and whose applications were filed from March 5 to December 15, 2018 are entitled to the benefit granted by MC 2018-005.
DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Richmund de Leon earlier said the LTFRB will need to amend its memorandum to allow the permanent classification of hatchbacks as TNVS units, and to re-enlist TNVS units that were previously removed from the masterlist.
He further cited that the inclusion of hatchbacks in the TNVS fleet will greatly benefit the commuting public.
“We are giving the commuters their transport options. Kung gusto niya na mas mura ang biyahe niya, mag-hatchback siya,” he said.
by Robie de Guzman | Posted on Wednesday, July 17th, 2019
Courtesy: Department of Transportation
MANILA, Philippines – The construction of the Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT-2) East Extension Project is now 61 percent complete, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Wednesday.
The DOTr said the project, which will add four kilometers of railway tracks from Santolan in Pasig City to Masinag in Antipolo City, is already at 61.93% completion rate as of June 2019.
IN PHOTOS: Concluding the #BUILDBUILDBUILD Media Tour today, the DOTr railways team inspected the ongoing construction…
The LRT-2 extension project will feature two stations – the Emerald station, along Marcos highway and adjoining Gil Fernando and Felix Avenues, and the Masinag station, near Sumulong highway in Antipolo City, Rizal.
The DOTr said the building of the elevated viaduct is already 100 percent complete, while the design and build of the two additional stations are currently ongoing.
“The Emerald Station in Marikina is 89.51% complete while the Masinag Station in Antipolo is at 86.86% complete,” the agency added.
Once operational, it is expected to significantly reduce the travel time from Antipolo to Claro M. Recto in Manila to 40 minutes from the current three hours.
The DOTr is targeting to begin its operations by the fourth quarter of 2020.
by Marje Pelayo | Posted on Wednesday, July 17th, 2019
Proposed MRT 7 train
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is targeting the partial operation of MRT-7 in 2021.
DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said the project will definitely ease the burden of commuters as travel time from Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan will reduce significantly from four hours to about 35 minutes once the project is completed.
On Wednesday (July 17), Batan and DOTr officials inspected MRT-7’s construction site in Quezon City to check the work in progress.
According to the project’s contractor San Miguel Corporation, the ongoing construction is already 44% complete which includes the train stations, platforms and the line where the railings will be placed.
The DOTr also announced that the procurement of 36 new train sets from South Korea has already been done.
MRT-7 is a 23-kilometer railway system that connects North Avenue in Quezon City to the province of Bulacan.
The train system traverses 14 stations namely North Avenue, Quezon City Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala and San Jose Del Monte.
It can load up to 500,000 passengers daily.
To prevent similar glitches as those in MRT Line 3, the DOTr is in close coordination with the agency’s private partners in terms of the regular maintenance of the MRT-7.
Usec. Batan said the completion of the entire project is expected in 2022. – with details from Joan Nano
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