George Royeca, co-founder of motorcycle ride-sharing app Angkas, says the numbers are staggeringly lopsided: “For every 18 motorcycles, there is only one car. And amazingly, no law protecting drivers and riders.” Royeca has taken it upon himself to staunchly advocate for the professionalisation of motorcycles as a form of transport and, consequently, motorcyclists' legal protection and safety.

With the country’s heavy traffic and small streets, the fastest mode of transportation for low-income families is the motorcycle. One out of three Filipinos owns a motorbike. All this was not clear to Royeca when he co-founded Angkas with Angeline Tham in 2016. He confesses being “shocked to the core” when Angkas revealed how many benefit from the service. For revolutionising the transport industry, Royeca was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in 2020.

Angkas has more than 30,000 biker partners or accredited drivers, and the app has upwards of 4 million downloads. It operates in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro. Royeca says that one of Angkas’ proudest achievements has been its ability to lift its biker partners out of poverty.

Now, Royeca continues to push for the support of his riders via initiatives with various brands. In 2023, Angkas partnered with UnionDigital Bank to ensure financial inclusion for all riders. The company has also signed a collection servicing agreement with Pag-IBIG to ensure riders can access their benefits quickly.