City dad proposes ordinance to regulate ‘habal-habal’ drivers

Rep. Raul del Mar (Contributed Photo)
Rep. Raul del Mar (Contributed Photo)

WITH the filing of a proposed ordinance that seeks to regulate habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) drivers’ operations in Cebu City, some drivers welcome it—albeit with conditions.

John Rey Aparicio, president of Ermita-based Freedom Riders, said he would like the fare metric system to be in kilometers and their fare rate should be different from that of Angkas, a ride-hailing app.

“I hope that ours would be a little higher than that of Angkas; unlike them, we have to wait for hours before we could get a passenger. Angkas drivers can easily get passengers,” Aparicio said in Cebuano.

During the City Council’s regular session on Aug. 27, 2019, Councilor Raymond Garcia sponsored legislation that seeks to grant the “Local Government of Cebu City the power and authority to issue local regulatory license and permits to operators of motor taxi commonly known as ‘habal-habal’ and transport network companies” within the city.

The proposed ordinance would have the City involved in the issuance of local regulatory franchise/s of motorcycle taxis without interfering with the registration of the vehicles, which is one of the primary functions of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The City Council has referred the measure to the committee on laws for further study.

LTO 7 Director Victor Caindec supports Garcia’s measure, saying “regulation is different from legalization.” He said though that Congress needs to amend a national law that prohibits the operation of motorcycles-for-hire.

However, a co-author of the proposed “Motorcycles-for-Hire Act,” Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, third district) believes that legalizing habal-habal operation is the necessary step before regulating it.

“A local government cannot regulate it because it cannot recognize something that’s illegal. How can you regulate something if it’s not legal?” he said.

The bill, principally authored by Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district), aims to amend Republic Act 4136 (the Land Transportation and Traffic Code), and to allow and regulate the use of motorcycles as public utility vehicles.

As to the legislation filed before the City Council, it wants to require the drivers to wear uniforms and undergo training.

Aparicio agreed with these provisions, saying these could ensure the safety of the passengers and drivers. He hopes the uniforms would be given for free, and the training’s schedule would not affect his livelihood.

His fellow motorcycle-for-hire driver John Cajeras agreed with the measure.

The proposed ordinance states that wearing uniforms can help the motorcycle-for-hire drivers be easily identified by the commuters.

Cajeras does not disagree with regulating their fares, saying some of his fellow drivers overcharge for their services.

“Whatever is the City Council’s plan, we are willing to follow it because we’re only here to make a living,” he said. (JJL/WBS/from PAC of Superbalita Cebu/KAL)

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