CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña clarified that his office did not authorize any habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) organization to use the City Government seal and his signature in the distribution of stickers and identification cards (ID).
“We don’t collect anything and I did not authorize anyone to collect. It’s not authorized. I never told them to do it and I don’t know who is doing it. I don’t know where the money is going,” he said.
Earlier, Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. said habal-habal drivers were made to pay for the stickers with the City seal, IDs signed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña and uniforms to avoid apprehension. The sticker costs P60 while the ID costs P200.
Alcover said that it has become a business for those who are accrediting the drivers. Osmeña said habal-habal drivers can organize themselves but they should not use the City.
“If they want to collect membership okay, but don’t put there Tomas Osmeña or City Government or Office of the Mayor. They can’t use the name of the City of Cebu,” he said.
Osmeña said he will “cut the neck” of whoever is responsible of using his signature at the back of the IDs distributed to habal-habal drivers. Osmeña has directed Councilor Dave Tumulak to investigate the matter.
Alcover earlier questioned the executive department for organizing some habal-habal drivers in the city even though the City has no authority to regulate them.
Osmeña said he agrees with Alcover but the City is only providing service to the drivers. Osmeña is pursuing a program for motorcycle drivers in cooperation with Angkas, a mobile application for booking a motorcycle ride. (RVC)