Melo Villareal
Filipino Commuters reaction about the closure of ANGKAS
ANGKAS, a motorbike-hailing app, has recently appealed to the LTFRB to consider allowing two-wheeled vehicles under the TNVS category, sharing that it is committed to making motorbike transportation a safe, professional and viable option for commuters to beat Metro Manila traffic.
An outpouring of support has also come in from netizens, who has found ANGKAS to be a safe and reliable way for them to get around Metro Manila.
Here are some of the Netizens reactions as shared on Twitter and Facebook:
Making the Daily Commute Easier
ANGKAS has helped make commuting around Metro Manila much easier on a daily basis.
Mark Genesis tweeted about how he was an hour late without ANGKAS
While Ella Andres shared that ANGKAS was her solution to get to her 7am class on time:
ANGKAS has also made a difference for employees. Pau Lyn posted how she depends on ANGKAS and has she no longer has any record of tardiness because of the app, (https://www.facebook.com/pauvergz/) a sentiment echoed by Precious Paguirigan in her tweet (https://twitter.com/OhhMyPreciousss/).
In Cristina Nonato’s words “ANGKAS IS LIFE” and has really helped with worklife balance. (https://www.facebook.com/cristina.embuestro/).
And for GJ Romano, the closure of ANGKAS has lead to one simple question: How to live without ANGKAS (https://twitter.com/gjromano_/)
A Safer Option
In his post about the closing of ANGKAS, Multi-Media Motoring Journalist James Deakin added that it will only lead to people using habal-habal, a “totally unregistered service with no safety nets.”
A Better Livelihood
Carlo tweeted about how ANGKAS has helped make life better for bikers like Kuya Rommel, who didn’t make enough in this previous job for 7 years. (https://twitter.com/carolusbogartus/)
Life-Changing, Life-Saving
ANGKAS has done more than just helping commuters beat traffic. Angela Gutierrez posted that the app helped bring her to her grandmother’s side when her grandmother was admitted to the hospital (https://www.facebook.com/pauvergz/).
Finally, Justine Montecarlo talked about how ANGKAS is “life-changing, life-saving” as bikers are always on time, safe as ANGKAS bikers undergo trainings and examinations, and friendly, always concerned about the well-being of their riders (https://www.facebook.com/justine.montecarlo.17/).
A Change.Org petition has also begun to circulate to drum up support for the legalization of ANGKAS at https://www.change.org/p/atty-martin-legalize-angkas.
Here in the Philippines, motorbike transportation is available in the form of habal-habal, most commonly found in the Makati and Taguig areas. Yet habal-habal have no safety measures or standardized fares in place, so the issue of safety always remains a question in the minds of commuters.
ANGKAS aimed to raise the standards of safety in motorcycle transportation by only allowing professional bikers on the platform, and offering free, high-quality safety gear, transparent prices, and personal accident insurance to passengers and bikers alike.
Here’s to hoping that ANGKAS will be back soon!
See Also: Must-Do Things in Manila
