Angkas posibleng mag-operate muli

Ang motorcycle back-riding na Angkas ay papayagan muling mag-operate “in principle” pending health safety guidelines na kanilang dapat gagawin na ipinapatupad ng Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) upang labanan ang paglaganap ng COVID -19.

Sa ilalim ng Resolution No. 47, ang IATF, ay inatasan ang Department of Transportation (DOTR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), at Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Bureau of Philippine Standards upang magpulong at alamin ang pinakaligtas at epektibong pamamaraan upang mabawasan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa mga back-riding motorcycles.

“For this purpose, this mode of transportation is hereinafter allowed in principle, upon the approval of the requirements to be set by the Technical Working Group (TWG),” ayonsa IATF.

Ang National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 na pinamumunuan ni Secretary Carlito Galvez and siyang magbibigay ng guidelines upang muli silang makabalik sa kanilang operasyon.

“Back-riding has been approved in principle upon the approval of the requirements to be set by the Technical Working Group,” wika ni Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Ang DOTr ay pinapayagan ang gradual deployment ng mga public transportation mula sa hanay ng passenger buses hanggang modern jeepneys, tricycles at iba pang paraan ng transportation depende sa quarantine levels sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa.

Samantala, habang hinihintay ng Angkas ang desisyon ng legalization ng kanilang operasyon, nag-submit naman sila ng listahan ng mga innovative health at safety guidelines upang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19

“Our company has submitted a set of proposed health and safety protocols to the IATF to enhance the safety of motorcycle taxi service,” yon kay Angkas chief George Royeca.

Subalit sinabi ng DOTr na hindi nila papayagan ang motorcycle taxis na mag- operate hanggang hindi pa nale-legalized ang kanilang operasyon.

“The pilot study (trial period) of motorcycle taxis had already expired last April. We submitted our recommendations to the House of Representatives and are awaiting their action if they will be allowed to continue operations. So, technically, there is nothing to resume in the meantime, unless a new law is passed legalizing their operations as a public transport mode,” sabi ng DOTr.

Umaasa naman si Royeca na tutulungan sila ng pamahalaan upang magawa nila ang patuloy na pag-aaral kung paano magIging mas ligtas at makakatulong ang mga motorcycle taxi service sa kakulangan ng transportation sa mga quarantine areas.

Isa sa mga mungkahi ng Angkas ay gamitin ang motorcycle taxis katulad ng shuttle service na may pre-registered passengers sa mga selected companies. Sa ganitong paraan ay masisiguroang contact tracing ng mga pasahero.

“To date, Angkas has a base of four million users that can help add to the government’s contact tracing database,” dagdagniRoyeca.

Minungkahi rin nila na ang mgapasahero ay mahigpit na magdala ng kanilang sariling helmet at magdala rin ng kanilang face mask upang hindi magkahawaan. Lalagyan din nila plastic shield ang pagitan ng driver at pasahero. (LACSAMAR)