Habalhabal, mountain baragays top Alcover’s legislative agenda

CEBU, Philippines — Regulating the operations of motorcycles-for-hire known as habalhabal and improvements in the mountain barangays are among the priority legislations of Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover, Jr., should he be re-elected.

During the #KnowYourCandidate with The FREEMAN yesterday, Alcover presented his plans and legislations in mind if he will get fresh mandate again.

#KnowYourCandidate is an interview series for the CEBU VOTE, the election coverage of The FREEMAN and Banat News.

“Ever since I was in Congress, ako ang unang nag-push ana way back 2012 nga akong gi-file nga bill no. 6046 para sa legalization sa habalhabal kay gamit man sila labi na sa bukid ug traffic pero wala ma push through kay wala ko kabalik sa Congress,” he said.

When he was elected as City Councilor in 2016, Alcover said he planned to push for the regularization while the national government has not acted on the legalization of the habalhabal operations.

He introduced a legislation for the regulation of the habalhabal here in the city wherein drivers will be given identification card and there will be a fare matrix to avoid overcharging of fares.

However, Alcover said his proposed measure was rejected by the committee of the City Council, saying politics may be behind it.

If re-elected, he said he will prioritize this measure while it will take time for the Congress and the Senate to amend the law prohibiting the use of two-wheeled vehicle for public transportation.

Aside from this, Alcover said he will push for the improvements in the mountain barangays which he believed is being neglected by the current administration because these are not vote-rich barangays.

“Dili naman gyud unta ko modagan pero giingnan man ko ni Vice Labella (Edgardo Labella, who is running for mayor) and ni Mike Rama (vice mayor candidate) nga we need representative from the mountain barangays kay left out ang issues didto,” he said.

Alcover said he will push for legislations that will boost the mango industry there especially that the city was known for its sweet produce several years ago.

He planned to subsidize trainings for the farmers in the upland barangays and to establish an agriculture and farming institution to give them avenue to improve their skills.

Alcover said the city should also improve the flower industry which is giving livelihood in the upland barangays.

Further, he said he will look for ways to address the water supply problem especially that there are sources in the mountain barangays that are not developed and improved. – GAN (FREEMAN)