Habal-habal makes a killing during APEC meet

MANILA, Philippines - Habal-habal, private motorcycles which take on passengers for a fee, became profitable business in some areas in Parañaque due to the closure of roads for the security and convenience of heads of economies and delegates attending the just concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

The drivers of habal-habal charged stranded commuters a minimum of P50 each for a ride either from Baclaran to Tramo or from Tambo to Kabihasnan during the closure of Airport Road and the stretch of Sucat Road to Coastal Road.

But for Elizabeth, one of the commuters stranded in Baclaran, riding the habal-habal was better than walking several kilometers from Baclaran to Tramo or even up to Multinational Village along Sucat Road.

There were very few UV Express vehicles in Parañaque and the jeepneys were fully loaded with passengers as many commuters were stranded because of the monstrous traffic jams caused by the road closures.

“We felt that we were serving the people who were having a hard time getting a jeepney, UV or taxi rides,” said Alih, a habal-habal owner.

A personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) deployed in Tramo said that they would not apprehend the owners of habal-habal until the end of the APEC summit in consideration of the stranded commuters.

‘Abnoy na Daan’

Stranded commuters in Parañaque lambasted what they called “Abnoy na Daan” (Abnormal Path), referring to the road closure and traffic scheme implemented by the Aquino government during the APEC summit.

“This is a blatant show of disregard for the interest of the majority of poor Filipino communities. This is not tuwid na daan (straight path). This is Abnoy na Daan. Aquino is good only in kayabangan (being boastful). He should have spared us from this nightmare traffic by diverting the delegates to Clark Airbase,” said a passenger of a jeepney who was on his way to Baclaran.

“This Noynoy is inept. Why doesn’t he show the real state of the country to APEC delegates?” Romy said in Filipino, referring to President Aquino.

“Noynoy is good in hypocrisy and pretentions. He pretends that the country does not have problems on illegal vendors, that it is clean. They even cleared Roxas Boulevard and other parts of Metro Manila with street dwellers. Noynoy really wanted to hide the real state of the country,” another passenger said.