George Royeca is decongesting streets and empowering drivers through his motorcycle hailing platform, Angkas
A 2020 Gen.T honouree himself, George Royeca has become a notable name in the transportation sector. Known as the CEO and co-founder of the motorcycle-hailing platform, Angkas, Royeca and his wife, Angeline Tham, have made it their mission to provide commuters with solutions to an almost impossible urban quagmire.
Traffic in the Philippine metro is notorious for its congestion. For major cities such as Cebu and Metro Manila, congestion often comes with personal and economic consequences. Fortunately, a solution has presented itself: Angkas, a revolutionary way Filipinos can get around. The app itself leans on the versatility of motorbikes, which have become a popular and reliable mode of transportation. Not only do they allow one to bypass traffic, but motorcycles have also become effective in navigating the narrow streets often found around Philippine localities.
Read now: Wealth With Sophia: Unleash your inner investor and start growing your money
Founded in 2016, Angkas is an affordable alternative for many, with booking prices set below that of standard ride-hailing platforms. As the app has promised to comply with government regulators, Angkas is also a safer alternative to unlicensed or unregistered motorcycle taxis called habal-habal.
With over four million downloads, and over 25,000 accredited bikers in two major cities, it’s no question that Angkas is wildly popular. Royeca has since expressed his surprise at how beneficial Angkas have become to many Filipinos.
As of 2023, the app offers three kinds of services: Angkas Passenger, which connects users to motorcycle taxis; Angkas Padala, which allows users to send packages and supplies; and Angkas Pabili, a service that asks its bikers to buy and pick up items for the user. Now, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues, Angkas is also partnering with the Philippine Red Cross to deliver affordable and convenient home testing services to Filipinos. Though not yet commercially available on the app, Angkas promises to bring the service to users soon. “[The initiative] gave our Angas bikers a new way of helping the community and doing public service during the pandemic,” Royeca noted.
Read now: How these innovative fintech leaders are democratising wealth in Asia
Last January 2023, Royeca also revealed plans to expand the coverage area of Angkas beyond Metro Manila and Cebu. Though still under a pilot study, Royeca is optimistic about Angkas’ plan to tap into other locales. “For us, we have proven that the model works in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu,” the CEO said. “The idea right now is to. . .offer this livelihood opportunity to all parts of the country. A lot of people need this service. A lot of people need more jobs and this is what we intend to do—to expand Angkas all over.”