UPGRADING THE HABAL-HABAL RIDE
For P50 for the first two kilometers and P10 for every succeeding kilometer, commuters have found a ride that’s fast enough to get them to where they want to go
As Cebu’s traffic seems to worsen each year, some motorcycle drivers have found a way to cash in.
Through ride-hailing mobile app Angkas, some Cebuano motorcyle owners have begun to use their bikes for public transportation, earning roughly P1,000 each day, or approximately P30,000 to P40,000 a month.
SunStar Cebu interviewed four Angkas drivers, including female drivers.
They were 39-year-old Rollie Espantaleon, 36-year-old Wellmar Go, Cleofe Catarina, 43, and Rovelien Erjas, 35.
Rollie was a newspaper delivery boy and a habal habal driver for 13 years before he joined Angkas in July. Wellmar hails from Bohol, and transferred to Cebu when he learned about the opportunity.
Meanwhile, Cleofe was a former BPO employee and now supports her two kids in college with earnings from Angkas. Rovelien from Borbon also found a job in driving a motorcycle.
Launched in Cebu last July, Angkas boasts of “a fast and safe” way to get around the city, especially for locations that are too far to walk or would take too long in a vehicle because of traffic.
Compared to the usual modes of transportation in Cebu like jeepneys, taxicabs, and transport network vehicles (TNCs) similar to Grab and Uber, Angkas has become another alternative to the Cebuano commuters.
“We’re extremely encouraged by the response we’ve gotten, both from bikers and passengers. We’ve received applications from bikers of all backgrounds: a number of habal-habal bikers, but also office, restaurant and BPO employees, small business owners, tradespeople, etc,” said Angkas spokesperson Walter Wong in an e-mail.
Compared to the traditional “habal-habal” (motorcycle taxi), Angkas assures they have a safe and more comfortable ride as a passenger is provided with the drivers’ basic information, which can be viewed on a mobile phone. They also provide a DTI-ICC certified helmet, as well as a face mask and hair cap for hygiene.
The Angkas management, according to the drivers, also imposed a maximum speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour, depending on the location, so as not to endanger the passengers.
The drivers have undergone a one-day safety training and road skills assessment at the Angkas headquarters in Cebu City, along F. Cabahug St. They are also required to secure a professional driver’s license, an NBI clearance, and a police or barangay clearance.
“It is our hope that by being strict about the safety and quality of the Angkas experience, we are able to raise the standards and expectations of the public about motorbike transportation overall,” said Wong.
As a long-time habal-habal driver, and president of the motorcycle drivers’ association of Sudlon Lahug Palawan chapter, Rollie said he learned how safety is a priority, not only for him, but also for his passengers.
“Sa una, kung moingon ang pasahero nga paspasan kay malate na sila, mopadagan lang jud ko og kusog aron dili lang sila ma-late. Pero karon, paningkamutan nako nga paspas ang dagan pero mas importante nga safe sila,” he said.
Rollie is also one of Angkas’ top drivers. Last night, he and his fellow top drivers were treated to a movie screening, part of the Angkas incentives for top performers.
The drivers are scored based on the number of trips they had in a week and high-star ratings.
Wellmar, the most hardworking of the four, drives up to 12 hours a day, being the breadwinner of his family that he left in Bien Unido, Bohol. The others drive six to eight hours a day, although they said they run their own time.
Rainy days, however, are slow business for them. But these four Angkas drivers brave the rain, in their raincoats, to provide for their respective families at the end of each day.
Commuters in their early to mid 20s are the popular users of Angkas, mostly college students and BPO workers.