Two Cebuano solons support habal-habal regulation

CEBU, Philippines - Two Cebuano legislators support the move to regulate the operation of motorcycles-for-hire or habal-habal in Cebu.

Both Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th District) and Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City South District agreed that habal-habal has become a necessity especially in the rural areas where roads are not passable by a four-wheeled vehicles.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos and City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem ealier said that habal-habal operations could not be regulated as it is prohibited by law.

But Aguilos said the law may be amended.

However, it should be considered that motorcycles are designed to carry a maximum of two passengers only. Otherwise, it is a violation of the safety standards.

Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI (Cebu, 5th District) has filed House Bill 1107, which will amend Section 447 and 458 of the Local Government Code of 1991 and devolve the regulatory and franchising powers over the operation of motorcycles-for-hire to cities and municipalities.

The Durano-initiated measure seeks to grant the local government units the power to regulate and control the use of motorcycles-for hire in the rural and remote areas within their territorial jurisdiction.

The bill is still pending before the committee on local government since July 28, 2010.

Salimbangon said he will support Durano’s pending bill.

He said in Sta. Fe’s Kinatarcan Island, habal-habal is the only mode of transportation .

“It has become a necessity. There is no other mode of transportation there except habal-habal. We just need to regulate it,” Salimbangon said.

Jakosalem, a former Cebu City councilor said that the City Council has passed several resolutions strongly urging national legislators to amend Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation Code of the Philippines so that motorcycles-for-hire can be regulated.

“If I do run for Congress and win, RA 4136 amendment will be my number one priority,” Jakosalem said in jest.

Cebu Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano has authored an ordinance for the regulation of the business operation of motorcycles-for-hire and tricycles within Cebu province.

The ordinance is due for public hearing although the final schedule is yet to be set.

Ouano said LTO 7 should be given a “Kalabasa Award” for being remiss in their duty to apprehend habal-habaldrivers.

But Aguilos explained that LTO has deputized local PNP units and local traffic enforcement teams to conduct and enforce national laws in their respective areas because his office cannot cover the entire region.

“If they cannot enforce traffic laws, then, we might as well revoke their deputization orders,” Aguilos said.

Jakosalem, on the other hand, said CITOM conducts its own operations against habal-habal. 

“We have several apprehensions for motorcycle-for-hire violations but they always go back in the streets. Anti-habal-habal operations are conducted daily. But we would rather concentrate on managing traffic. We have so many ordinances being implemented for traffic matters,” Jakosalem explained.

Jakosalem however admitted that it is “close to impossible to eliminate them.”

“Like I said, many people cannot live without them already,” Jakosalem said.  (FREEMAN)