CEBU City Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. questioned the executive department for organizing some habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) drivers in the city even though the City Government has no authority to regulate them.

In a news conference, Alcover said habal-habal drivers were made to pay for the stickers with the seal of the City Government, identification cards (ID) 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.

He also criticized Osmeña for pursuing a program for motorcycle drivers in cooperation with Angkas, a mobile application for booking a motorcycle ride.

“They proposed a program for motorcycle drivers with Angkas. What is the difference between Angkas and habal-habal? Angkas is a business, habal-habal is a livelihood, and why are they giving priority to Angkas?” he said.

Alcover said the City is being selective when it comes to the operation of habal-habal drivers.

“Why are they giving privilege to some? They said habal-habal is illegal,” he said.

Alcover said that although Osmeña has acknowledged that the operation of habal-habal is illegal, it’s dereliction of duty for the mayor to tolerate the illegal act because he will not apprehend those accredited by the City.

Alcover earlier proposed an ordinance that would regulate habal-habal operation in the city but the council’s committee on laws did not endorse it.

The committee said the City cannot regulate habal-habal operation because it is beyond its power to enact that legislation and even if local government units have the power to regulate the operation of conveyances for hire, the power does not extend to motorcycles as no national law allows and regulates the operation.

Alcover said the administration blocked his proposal because the credit in organizing habal-habal drivers would have gone to him. (RVC)