Osmeña vows to approve ordinance: CH to regulate habal-habals

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City may soon regulate the operation of public motorcycles known locally as “habal-habals” as Mayor Tomas Osmeña said yesterday he will approve an ordinance to this effect once the City Council passes one.

“I’m going border line breaking the law because the law says you cannot regulate these things but we are going to do it anyway,” the mayor told reporters.

The ordinance proposed by Councilor Pastor Alcover, Jr. would require drivers and operators of habal-habal to pay P250 to P500 as annual registration fee.

The proposal is now with the council’s committee on laws, ordinances, and styling for comments and recommendations. It will also undergo a public hearing so that stakeholders will be heard before the Council deliberates on it for the last time.

While he will support the regulation as a whole, Osmeña said he will not allow the city to collect registration fees from drivers who are making a living.

“The city is not interested in making money. We are interested in providing a service. This is not a business for the city,” he said.

To regulate the operation of habal-habal, the mayor said he would want to adopt a system similar to Angkas, an online booking system that allows commuters to use a phone application to book a motorcycle ride for a fixed fare.

Osmeña believes an established system can address the problem of excessive rates that some habal-habal drivers demand from passengers.

Passengers would also feel safe because they will have access to the drivers’ profiles.

The mayor announced that the city is in talks with Angkas to discuss the system and the possible registration of habal-habal drivers.

“We will not collect 20 percent (like Angkas). We (the city) might pay Angkas a consultancy fee to help manage for us. That’s what we are trying to negotiate now. Okay ra basta makahatag ang government og safety sa atong mga riders,” he said.

He said drivers would need to undergo training on safety and traffic rules, among others. He also wants to establish a depot where habal-habal drivers can buy spare parts at a low price.

“So it’s not because there’s a penalty you’re just put out of the loop. You’re not part of the service anymore if you’re badlungon… if you have a bad driving record, you’re put out of the loop,” the mayor said.

The mayor has since been vocal on his support of the habal-habal, saying the service is responsive to the needs of Cebuanos.

This despite the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) saying a motorcycle is not considered a safe mode of transportation. — /JMO (FREEMAN)