"Oplan Hagibis" a success on first week

CEBU, Philippines - In just a few days, the “Oplan Hagibis” managed to clear the junctions of Gorordo Avenue and Salinas Drive of motorcycles-for-hire locally known as “habal-habal,” something that caught the admiration of Mayor Michael Rama.

Some traffic police and members of the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) were deployed at the areas since Thursday last week to discourage “habal-habal” drivers from loitering thereat and scouting for passengers.

Yesterday morning, the team impounded some motorcycles after the vehicles’ drivers failed to show licenses. Many “habal-habal” motorcycles reportedly do not have active registrations.

Driving a vehicle without a license can cost the driver P1,500 and the owner of the vehicle P1,000. Driving a vehicle with an expired registration can cost the owner P2,000.

Rama decided to form the “Oplan Hagibis” after he observed that most of the “habal-habal” drivers operating in the vicinity of JY Square in Barangay Lahug are not complying with traffic laws.

These “habal-habal” drivers were requested to attend the assembly on September 3 at the University of the Philippines (UP-Cebu) campus so they can be formally organized into groups so that compliance with traffic laws would be easier.

Most of these “habal-habal” drivers are operating in Barangays Busay, Lahug, Apas, Tisa, Buhisan, Banawa and Kalunasan.

Cebu City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete explained the “Oplan Hagibis” is not intended to take the livelihood away from the “habal-habal” drivers, but to encourage them to comply with traffic laws.

City Hall, nevertheless, is planning to limit the number of “habal-habal” drivers operating in a certain routes, meaning they will be distributed to certain areas to avoid congestion.

Poblete said the “habal-habal” drivers will be encouraged to wear proper attire while driving their units and to always wear crash helmets, including their passengers, to avoid being apprehended.

A public address system has been installed at the intersections of Gorordo Avenue and Salinas Drive to inform the drivers of the consequences once they will be apprehended for traffic violations.

The city will also look for a possible location that can be converted into a terminal for the “habal-habal drivers.” (FREEMAN)