LTFRB shuts down motorcycle-booking transpo service ‘Angkas’
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has shut down the motorcycle-hailing company Angkas last on Nov. 9 due to lack of permits.
Motorcycles under the Angkas company were not registered with the LFTRB and were considered as “colorum," similar to “habal-habal,” which were tagged as illegal.
According to Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, motorcycles are only allowed as private or government transport vehicles.
"RA 4136 is the law. Unless it is changed, then that is the only time na puwede. Otherwise, hindi," LTFRB board member attorney Aileen Lizada told Rappler in a text message.
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) order 2015-11 also does not allow motorcycles as transport network vehicle service (TNVS), which makes Angkas illegal.
Lawyer Lizada said motorcycles were not considered TNVS even with an application thhat allows the public to book a ride.
The LTFRB team conducted a joint operation with the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, some members of the Land Transportation Office, and the Metro Manila Development Authority.
They apprehended 19 Angkas drivers, confiscated their licenses and motorcycles, and fined them P10, 000 each on the same day.
The Makati City government also ordered Angkas to close down its training center on Chino Roces Avenue extension on Thursday due to business operations without permit.
“During the course of our inspection of your business establishment, it was found out that [Angkas] ha[s] been operating without the requisite business/mayor’s permit which is a violation of Section 4, Article 1 of the Revised Makati Revenue Code (Ordinance No. 2004-A-025),” the order stated.
“Henceforth, without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate charges against [Angkas] in court for violation of the above-cited ordinance, [Angkas is] to cease and desist from further operating your business establishment until such time compliance with the said ordinance is made,” it added.
The Makati Business Permits Office, in an apprehension notice signed by city administrator Claro Certeza and city legal officer Michael Arthur Camina, gave Angkas 3 days to explain why they should continue their operations.
"Considered as closed na po ito. Hindi na po sila pwedeng mag-operate until hindi nila naaayos yung papers na kailangan," Makati City business permit inspector Archie Gamboa said in an interview with CNN.
Government authorities are now in cooperation with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to remove the Angkas application.
In a press release, the LTFRB said it has long issued a statement to Angkas to stop its operations as early as January 2017 because it has not coordinated with them.