Alcover lobbies anew to regulate habal-habal

COUNCILOR Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. lobbied anew for the passage of an ordinance he authored that would regulate the operation of habal-habal or motorcycle-for-hire operations in Cebu City.

The councilor floated his proposed ordinance in response to the suspension enforced by the regional Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on the operation of Angkas members.

Angkas is an online habal-habal booking app that was suspended by the LTFRB for lack of permits. The suspension took effect last November 15.
“There has to be a solution (to this problem). Whether one agrees or not the habal-habal is widely accepted by the riding public as a viable mode of transportation,” he said.

Last Tuesday, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña told reporters that the city won’t run after Angkas members and other habal-habal drivers.

Alcover, a Barug Team Rama member, said he supports the mayor’s decision not to restrict habal-habal operations.

He said he aims to regulate and legalize it through the ordinance that he authored based on a similar bill he filed in Congress as Anad party-list legislator.

Alcover said he is concerned that the suspension of Angkas operations may force habal-habal drivers to resort to other means to survive.

City Councilor Joel Garganera said the suspension had denied the riding the public a viable transport choice to help them cope with traffic congestion which he described as “horrendous.”

“The reason habal-habal exists karon (now), is the failure of an efficient mode of transportation. Angkas is the answer to the horrendous traffic we are suffering every day,” Garganera said.