Motorcycle taxi firms Angkas and JoyRide can now operate beyond December 9, after complying with the terms set by the government.

In a statement on Monday, December 7, the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group (TWG), which oversees the pilot run of motorcycle taxis, issued a certificate of compliance to the two firms.

This means that both can continue operations even after December 9 – the last day of the validity of their provisional authority to operate – and for the duration of the pilot run.

But the government has yet to determine until when it will hold the pilot run.

When the government granted Angkas provisional authority to operate starting November 24, the TWG asked the company to provide insurance for riders and passengers before the certificate of compliance is issued.

Under the new setup prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, motorcycle taxi firms no longer lend helmets to passengers. Cashless transactions were also introduced.

Both firms were also initially required to provide thermal scanners to check if a passenger has fever, but this was later scrapped.

The TWG has yet to issue a certificate of compliance to MoveIt, whose provisional authority to operate was only granted last Thursday, December 3.

In 2019, Angkas motorcycle drivers were allowed to offer rides under a Department of Transportation-led pilot study. The government aimed to “collect data” on the viability and safety of motorcycle taxis, which would be used to amend the 50-year-old law banning this mode of public transportation.

The test run was extended to accommodate JoyRide and MoveIt, but it had to be cut a few days short because of the coronavirus lockdown last March. – Rappler.com