Council urges Rama: Address concerns of habal-habal drivers

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has requested Mayor Michael Rama to convene the Motorcycle-For-Hire Regulatory Board to address the concerns of habal-habal drivers in the city.

In a privilege speech before the council on Wednesday, Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. said City Ordinance No. 1436, known as an ordinance creating the Motorcycle-For-Hire Regulatory Board and the Board of Secretariat of the city, was passed in 1992. It was further amended by CO 1576 and CO 1932.

Alcover said it has been 30 years since the ordinance was passed yet the programs and policies regarding motorcycle-for-hire drivers or habal-habal drivers still have no concrete direction.

“Kung atong iphon ang katuigan nga milabay, sukad sa pagpasar aning ordinansa No. 1436 niadtong 1992, ika-30 years na ang nakalabay. Apan, ang mga programa ug lagda mahitungod sa mga motorcycle-for-hire drivers or habal-habal drivers nagpabilin nga walay konkretong direksyon,” said Alcover.

The councilor said the current situation of the city’s habal-habal drivers demands urgent action.

Currently, there are almost 10,000 habal-habal drivers in the city.

“Tungod sa walay consistent nga mga lagda alang kanila, daghan kaayo ang madakpan tungod sa pagsupak ning gitawag og lagda sa trapiko,” said Alcover.

Alcover said such situation is a big problem since this is prone to corruption.

“Daghang mga reklamo akong nadawat sa mga habal-habal drivers tungod lagi kay kuno illegal sila. Gukuron sila sa ubang, naay mga badlungon sad nga mga enforcers. Dakpon sila, para lang mapangayuan og kwarta sa ilahang pag-violate sa gitawag og mga traffic rules nato,” he explained.

Alcover said many habal-habal drivers experience discrimination whenever checkpoints are being conducted.

This prompted the councilor to request Rama to convene the Motorcycle-For-Hire Regulatory Board so that the concerns of the habal-habal drivers will be responded to.

“Thirty years na ang nakalabay, ang dakong pangutana, unsang mga policies or programa nga napasar ning Motorcyle-For-Hire Regulatory Board alang sa atong mga habal-habal drivers?” asked Alcover. — GMR (FREEMAN)