6,000 habal-habal drivers urged to get accreditation

CEBU, Philippines — There are still around 6,000 habal-habal drivers in Cebu City that have yet to get accreditation with the city government.

Based on information gathered by The Freeman from the office of City Councilor Pastor Jun Alcover, there are already around 6,000 habal-habal drivers who are duly accredited by the City government via the Cebu City Habal-Habal Drivers’ Association.

However, based on the office’s estimate, there are still around 6,000 more unaccredited habal-habal riders in the city, said Councilor Alcover’s executive assistant Chito Aragon.

Before the Sinulog 2024, Alcover encouraged the riding public taking motor taxis or habal-habal to choose those that are accredited drivers by the city government with proper IDs.

Alcover said this is for the public’s protection, as well as the drivers since there are programs that they can avail of.

Last year, duly accredited drivers were able to avail of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) through Liga ng mga Barangay president and ex-officio city councilor Franklin Ong. Through the AICS, the accredited drivers got P3,000 each.

Aragon also disclosed that they plan to train these habal-habal drivers as responders.

“Naay plano sad si sir (councilor Alcover) nga ang habal-habal drivers uban himuong volunteer sa quick responders kon naa mga panghitabo. E-train sila for first aid,” said Aragon, adding that accreditation for the remaining habal-habal drivers continues.

LTO lauds PNP

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II has lauded the leadership of the Philippine National Police for its commitment to register all its motor vehicles amid the strict implementation of the “No Registration, No Travel” policy.

The assurance that all police motor vehicles will be registered was relayed through a letter sent by Police Brig. Gen. Roderick Minong, Director of the PNP-Logistics Support Service, to Assistant Secretary Mendoza.

In the latter dated Jan. 10, Minong said they have already coordinated with the Government Service Insurance System for the issuance of the Certificate of Cover to facilitate the registration of motor vehicles under the PNP fleet, which the latter commits to release by the third week of this month.

In response, Mendoza said they agreed to assist the PNP motor vehicles pending the issuance of the COCs from the GSIS.

“Matagal na nating kasangga ang PNP sa pagpapatupad ng mga batas patungkol sa kaligtasan ng lahat ng road users. Sa checkpoint man o sa operation at maging sa imbestigasyon ng mga krimen ay lagi pong magkatuwang ang PNP at LTO,” said the LTO chief in a statement.

To recall, LTO has been aggressively implementing the policy since late last year in a bid to compel the owners of 24.7 million delinquent motor vehicles to renew the registration.

Mendoza said the renewal of the registration is necessary to ensure the road worthiness of all vehicles hitting the Philippine roads, especially that the 24.7 million vehicles represent 65 percent of all motor vehicles in the country.

Mendoza has also secured the assurance of some local chief executives not only to renew the registration of vehicles under the name of their LGUs but also in helping in the information campaign to encourage more delinquent motor vehicles to renew their registration.

Mendoza has already directed all regional directors to step up both the information drive and the enforcement of the “No Registration, No Travel’ policy. —(FREEMAN)