Angkas Founder’s Faith in Filipinos Recognized
Angkas and its founder Angeline Tham have been included in the Circle of Excellence for two separate categories at the 13th Asia CEO Awards. Angkas in the “Service Excellence Company” category, and Tham in the “Expat Executive of the Year” category. The Asia CEO Awards honors companies, entrepreneurs, and executives that have both excelled, and have made a significant positive impact on society.
Primarily a motorcycle taxi-hailing service, Angkas rode out the COVID-19 pandemic and the many transport restrictions that were imposed in that period, through a combination of grit and agility.
At different stages of the pandemic, Angkas worked tirelessly with the government to identify problems that motorcycle transport could solve. Angkas became the mobility partner of the Philippine Red Cross, delivering test kits door to door, and even transporting samples to labs. As transport restrictions eased, Angkas offered free rides to health workers.
“Public service not only for our customers, our bikers partners, and their families but for the whole nation has always been an integral part of Angkas’ DNA,” shared Angkas CEO George Royeca. “This company was established first and foremost as a solution to Metro Manila traffic, a very real problem many Filipinos face daily, that has economic consequences on a national level,” he added.
In spite of the motorbike’s obvious advantages as a mode of transport, widespread use of motorcycle taxis in the region, and the presence of illegal habal-habal services in cities all over the country, in 2015, the year Angkas was established, a motorcycle taxi service was unthinkable. At the time, 50% of all fatal road accidents were motorcycle accidents. Filipinos are notoriously undisciplined motorists, and on motorbikes, this translated to abysmal safety statistics that would make widespread adoption of motorcycle taxis completely unfeasible.
Tham did what no Filipino did, and what in all likelihood no Filipino would likely have ever done. As Angkas’ founder, Tham believed that Filipinos could be safe and disciplined bikers given the proper training and motivation. Her belief and investment in Filipinos have resulted in a safety record of 99.997% for Angkas, after literally millions of bookings, in seven years of operation. Angkas provides not only a safe, and reliable solution to epic traffic for Filipino commuters daily but also a viable and dignified livelihood to its nearly 23,000 biker partners.
“I know I speak for all of us at Angkas when I say that we are honored by this distinction. Whether or not we win, it is an affirmation for us, and it will inspire us to find more ways to be of service to Filipinos in the days and years to come,” declared Tham on learning the news. The announcement of the winners of the 13th Asia CEO Awards will be on Tuesday, Oct 11 at 5pm, at Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom.
