REP. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district) hopes to get next week the report of a House committee’s technical working group (TWG) on his proposed bill, which seeks to regulate motorcycles-for-hire.

Del Mar filed House Bill (HB) 6909 last Dec. 13, 2017 yet, seeking to give powers to local government units to regulate the motorcycles-for-hire, locally known as habal-habal.

He told Superbalita Cebu that the bill is pending before the TWG of the House committee on transportation for consolidation with similar bills.

The bill was introduced as “an Act regulating motorcycles-for-hire known as habal-habal or angkas...,” but it does not describe “angkas” as the ride-hailing mobile application.

Last month, a year after del Mar’s bill was filed, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a Mandaluyong City court ruling that prevented authorities from intervening in the motorcycle ride-hailing firm’s operations.

When Congress resumes its session on Jan. 14, del Mar said the TWG report will be presented to and approved by the transporation committee, which, in turn, will submit the report to the House committee on rules for approval.

If the bill passes the committee on rules, the consolidated bill will be calendared for second reading.

HB 6909 aims to authorize cities and municipalities to grant franchises for motorcycles-for-hire operations.

It also seeks to insert “motorcycles-for-hire also known as habal-habal or angkas” in Section 458 (3,vi) of Republic Act (RA) 7160, or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, which only mentions the regulation of tricycles.

The bill also wants to delete Section 7 (c) of RA 4136, or the Land Transporation Code, which prohibits motorcycles and other private vehicles from being used for hire.

Under HB 6909, Section 7 reads: “Every motor vehicle shall be registered under one of the following described classifications: (a) private passenger automobiles; and (b) private trucks. Motor vehicles registered under these classifications shall not be used for hire under any circumstances and shall not be used to solicit, accept, or be used to transport passengers or freight for pay.” (FROM PAC OF SUPERBALITA / KAL)