Photo from Angkas
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos-Recto continues to advocate for job creation and poverty alleviation as she teams up with the Filipino motorcycle taxi company Angkas during a press conference.
The multi-awarded actress and public servant revealed she has partnered with homegrown company Angkas to help promote additional livelihood opportunities and help raise the quality of life of Filipinos.
“Isang tinanong ko dito, ano ba ang future ng Angkas pa? I’ve learned na ito pa lang Angkas, itong mga riders natin, nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na magkaroon ng trabaho. More than 30,000 na ang nabigyan ng pagkakataon na magkaroon ng trabaho,” Santos-Recto said.
A recipient of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award in 2012, Santos-Recto has always pushed for jobs creation and additional livelihood opportunities.
During her time in Congress where she served as the representative of the 6th District of Batangas, Santos-Recto became a member of the Committees on Poverty Alleviation and Labor and Employment and made it a point to work on legislation addressing national concerns about unemployment and poverty.
“Ang Angkas at ako, we share the same beliefs and hopes for the country in terms of providing jobs and at the same time alleviating poverty. So yung priorities and focus ko nung public servant ako, pumupunta sa adbokasiya ng Angkas. Nag-aalign kami. Kaya nung in-offer sa akin tinanggap ko dahil pareho kami ng adbokasiya,” Santos-Recto said.
The Star for All Seasons added that another reason she agreed to partner with Angkas was because of the company’s safety record, “Yung mga riders dito well-trained. Hindi ka papasok pag hindi ka pumasa. Ang safety net nito, in-assure ako ng aking partner na si George, ay 99.997% safe,” Santos-Recto said.
Angkas said that after millions of rides, their accident rate is at .003%, less than one percent. The Filipino motorcycle taxi firm added it is continuously strengthening their formal training of motorcycle riders to help ensure that every motorcycle taxi that rolls out on the highways is safer.
Last year, Angkas and TESDA jointly developed a Basic Motorcycle Driving curriculum for those who want to use their motorcycles for business. The five-day program provides formal training to motorcycle riders through actual demonstrations.
Angkas Co-Founder and CEO George Royeca, meanwhile, said it is his greatest honor and pleasure to partner with the Star for All Seasons. Royeca revealed Santos-Recto was the only choice of Angkas for the partnership, “Wala pong ibang pumasok sa isip namin kundi si Ate Vi. Bakit? Ngayon po 60 years in show business. But let’s not forget, 24 years din po siyang public servant. At sa parehong propesyon, nagbibigay po sya ng pag-asa,” Royeca quipped.
The young CEO added they have always espoused hope in Angkas by providing livelihood opportunities to Filipinos, “Ngayon ang gusto po naming mangyari mas mabigyan namin ng oportunidad, beyond the province of Batangas, ang milyun-milyon na ordinaryong mamamayan. Our goal is to provide job opportunities across the entire country through the Angkas and Vilma Santos-Recto collaboration.”
The Star for All Seasons introduced her teaser with Angkas which depicts different challenges a Filipino commuter is facing every day. Santos-Recto said this is just the beginning of an exciting and wonderful partnership with Angkas and that the public should stay tuned, “Teaser lang po yan. May full version yan. Abangan,” she said.
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