Habal-habal takes advantage of APEC

CEBU, Philippines - Some commuters are complaining about habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) drivers taking advantage of the ongoing re-routing scheme that bans public transportation in areas near the venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

Habal-habal drivers are allegedly overcharging, based on the complaints brought to the attention of the Cebu City Transportation Office.

Lawyer Rey Gealon, CCTO chief, said some commuters complained that habal-habal drivers are charging P50 from I.T. Park in Lahug to SM City. Habal-habal operation has been very rampant in the area in lieu of the passenger jeepneys that are not allowed in the route because of the APEC meetings. 

Gealon said the CCTO does not have jurisdiction over habal-habal operation. He said it is the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board that have jurisdiction over it.

Gealon explained that CCTO personnel can only apprehend habal-habal drivers violating traffic rules.

“Ang ato ra gyud mabuhat ani is to apprehend them if ni-violate and disregard sa traffic signs because LTRFB and LTO ang naay katungod nga mo aksyon aron mahuman ang habal-habal operations,” Gealon said.

LTO operations chief Joel Maloloy-on has admitted having difficulty apprehending habal-habal drivers because the commuters themselves are protecting them.

“Dili mi kadakop sa mga habal-habal drivers kay dili mi makaingon nga colorum kay mismo ang mga pasahero dili motug-an nga paying passenger sila,” Maloloy-on said.

A 27-year old habal-habal driver who requested anonymity denied overcharging. He, however, admitted that there was one driver who does not belong to their group that took advantage of the APEC meetings.

 “Naamong ra gyud mi atong usa ka habal-habal driver nga nangayo og dako nga pletehan. Kung kami lang gyud magpahangyo man gyud mi kaysa wala mi kita karong adlawa kay way pasahero. Pareha ra sad baya ta ninyong nanginabuhi para makapalit og bugas,” he told The Freeman.

The Freeman chanced upon a 19-year-old student who refused to take a habal-habal. He said that habal-habal drivers are demanding exorbitant fare. — (FREEMAN)