Regional transportation officials ruled that the operation of motorcycle taxis popularly known as Angkas in the city is illegal that is why law enforcers should effect the arrest of the drivers of the said mode of transport being offered to willing clients.
Lawyer Joshua Pablito, regional director of the Cordillera office of the Department of Transportation (DOTR-CAR), said that the agency was already able to trace the social media application being used by the ones offering motorcycle taxi services in the city and referred the same to the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) for investigation and subsequent arrest of those involved in the operation of the illegal transport services.
He advised residents and visitors not to patronize the operation of motorcycle taxis in the city because it is not covered by the necessary insurance to cover for whatever injury or damage that will be incurred during accidents.
Further, the DOTR-CAR official claimed that passengers cannot claim for damages with the insurance company because the operation of motorcycle taxis are not covered because its operation in the city is not yet regulated, thus, it is illegal.
Earlier, netizens raised concern on the alleged operation of the motorcycle taxis in the city, especially at night, and inquired from concerned authorities of the same has been permitted by the regulatory agencies for the safety of the riding public.
For his part, Engr. Elmer Mendoza, public transport modernization focal person of the Cordillera office of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB-CAR), pointed out that what had been approved for pilot testing of the operation of motorcycle taxis cover Metro Manila, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro while Baguio City is not included in the said pilot test.
He said that the riding public who encounter the illegal operation of motorcycle taxis to report the matter to the law enforcers so that they will be immediately apprehended and subsequently penalized while the motorcycle that was used will be impounded by the agency.
Mendoza called on the riding public to be vigilant in patronizing the operation of the motorcycle taxis in the city to avoid themselves from being exposed to dangerous situations in the future.
On the other hand, sources, who requested anonymity for personal reasons, argued that motorcycle taxis are not feasible in the city because of the peculiar terrain, especially during the rainy season when the roads are slippery, thus, prone to the occurrence of accidents that may pose a serious threat to life and limb.
Many of them appealed to the LTFRB not to grant the application of interested operators to flood the city with motorcycle taxis because city roads were not designed for the said purpose aside from the fact that it will contribute to the worsening traffic congestions in various parts of the city. By Dexter A. See