Angkas, UP-CPH team up for motorcycle taxi safety protocols

MANILA: Motorcycle ride-hailing company Angkas has been collaborating with the University of the Philippines College of Public Health (UP-CPH) to study the viability and safety of motorcycle taxi services during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.

In an online press conference on June 21, UP-CPH head Dr. Vicente Belizario Jr. stated that the institution is formulating health and safety measures to be used when driving and riding motorcycle taxis during the new normal that will be submitted to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and the transportation sector.

UP-CPH assistant professor Dr. Paul Michael Hernandez added that the use of barriers between the passenger and the rider offers an additional protective layer to minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19 but the role of barriers, specifically those made of plastic or other types of materials to prevent COVID-19 transmission, is still insufficient. Hernandez said that additional studies and the active participation of stakeholders are also required.

Dr. Hernandez also mentioned some important points in the health and safety protocol to be enforced for motorcycle passengers and drivers like the use of face masks, the added protection of the recently-approved Angkas shield, the passengers’ use of their own helmets, proper handwashing using soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer, the usual respiratory etiquette, and sufficient ventilation are all crucial in the prevention of COVID-19 transmission.

Moreover, other recommended health measures were enumerated, such as the effective contact tracing among passengers and drivers, monitoring of symptoms, and responsible sharing of valid safety and health information to the public. Hernandez also pointed out that the more efficient is the ventilation, the higher the wind speed and the greater is the possibility that they can acquire cleaner air.

Hernandez and Belizario explained that ensuring the protection, safety, and health of passengers amid the pandemic is vital and that other pertinent scientific evidence and these study results need to be taken into consideration in the proper development of public transportation protocols.

In his closing statement, Dr. Belizario reiterated that the Angkas shield does not guarantee 100% protection similar to other health measures since mitigating the spread of COVID-19 involves the unified efforts of the government sectors, the riders, and the passengers.

Meanwhile, Angkas Chief Transport Advocate George Royeca stated that the company is confident that motorcycle taxis will be permitted again to serve the riding public, given the necessary IATF-approved safety and health protocols. This is because Angkas continues to formulate strategies and perform in-house monitoring to make motorcycle riding safe during these trying times.

Royeca explained that Angkas, being app-based, has an effective contact tracing strategy through its track history of rides. He also said that thousands of Angkas shields have already been distributed to their biker fleet and that there are about 30,000 bikers trained for adapting health and safety measures.

Angkas Head of Operations David Brian Medrana also stated that the riding firm takes into account other points in terms of the safety of motorcycle taxis such as the safety training of Angkas riders for backriding, realignment of rider training modules in compliance with the new normal, encouragement of contactless transactions aside from the UP-CPH-stated health protocols, and the proper disinfection of motorcycle taxis.

In the same virtual press conference, California-based Total Control Training president and motorcycle expert Lee Parks explained the importance of the five redundant layers of protection in the design of the Angkas shield. He discussed the pliability, visibility, lightness, and the material used for the “backpack-type” barrier.

“When the bike accelerates, the passenger can hold on to the handles at the bottom of the shield. The rider has resistance when braking. The handle system is essential so that the passenger can hold on. When the drivers tested out the shield they did not feel it due to its lightness and aerodynamics,” said Parks.

He also added that the multiple layers of protection on the Angkas shield helps in the prevention of flying insects and debris. Aside from lessening the risk of viral transmission, he also said that the material where the shield was made of can protect the riders from the rain.

Parks also commended Angkas for being “pre-active rather than reactive” to the COVID-19 crisis. He explained that even before the outbreak of the virus, Angkas has been diligent and consistent in formulating strategies to improve the efficiency and safety of motorcycle taxis.

Angkas Head of Marketing and Special Projects Walter Wong also pointed out that the Philippines, aside from Indonesia, is one of the pioneers worldwide in the use of the Angkas shield.

Towards the end of the online press conference, Royeca added that Angkas will assure the safety of motorcycle taxis as one of the modes of public transportation at the hearing of the Congress on the economy and the transportation industry today.

The virtual press conference with the UP-CPH and Angkas can be viewed here.

Photos from Angkas

Also read: Angkas proposes safe riding measures for moto taxis