The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has signed an agreement with motorcycle taxi ride-hailing services Angkas and JoyRide for the deployment of trained motorcycle emergency responders (MERs) during emergencies on major thoroughfares.
MMDA acting chair Carlo Dimayuga III signed the agreement with JoyRide PH Vice President Jerico Meneses, and Angkas Chief Executive Officer George Royeca at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City.
It was witnessed by Philip Du, Chief Administrative Officer of the Department of Health – National Capital Region.
Dimayuga said his agency made the partnership with the two firms to further strengthen its capacity and augment its resources on situations needing emergency response such as road traffic accidents within the metropolis.
“Even though they are competitors, Angkas and Joyride have extended their services by providing MERs at no cost to the MMDA as part of their corporate social responsibility,” Dimayuga said.
MERs are equipped with first-aid kits and other equipment and supplies which are commonly needed for medical emergencies. They will only respond to road traffic accidents/incidents on the seven major thoroughfares of Metro Manila such as EDSA, C5, Commonwealth, Roxas Boulevard, Quezon Avenue, Osmeña Highway, and Marcos Highway.
Royeca, for his part, said that this partnership is a testament that competition does not exist among bike-hailing firms.
“This is to show that we in the motorcycle industry are people of public service,” Royeca said.
Meneses also expressed his deepest gratitude to the MMDA for accepting their offer to be its partner as first responders.
Both Angkas and JoyRide shall provide 25 riders each. They will undergo the necessary training to be conducted by MMDA’s Public Safety Division and Road Emergency Group in coordination with the Philippine Red Cross and DOH.