In fact, they may even find themselves being jailed if they don’t stop.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it would not hesitate to arrest "habal-habal" operators if they continue operating illegally in cities like Makati and Taguig.
"What they’re doing is illegal," said Angelito Vergel de Dios, director of the MMDA’s Traffic Operation Center. "They have no legal authority and they are endangering the general public."
De Dios told the Toyota-sponsored AAP-NCTS Road Safety Conference that "habal-habal" may be a noble way of earning a living, but still, one needs a legal authority to do such a thing since it involves the welfare of the general public.
"Habal-habal" motorcycles were introduced in remote areas of Visayas and Mindanao, where they served as the principal means of transportation. In some of these areas, it is fairly common to see motorcycles with no sidecars carrying as many as 10 passengers.
Such motorcycle service also exists in other Southeast Asian countries, particularly Vietnam, where they are is known as "solo taxis."
De Dios noted that the heavy traffic in Metro Manila and the high cost of taxi services are the two principal reasons for people to try the "habal-habal."
"For P20, you can get to your destination fast. Its really attractive, although truly risky," he said.
Overall, he considers the rapidly growing number of motorcycles in the metropolis as an emerging concern for the MMDA. "With the growth of motorcycles come the rise of accidents."
The MMDA database recorded a total 4,076 accidents involving motorcycles last year, with 80 of them fatal. This number is more than double the 1,656 accidents (50 fatal) recorded in 2004, and eight times the 521 accidents (21 fatal) in 2003.
De Dios said motorcycle owners should be made aware that they are more vulnerable on the road than other motorists. "They should be taught how to keep themselves safe and how to avoid accidents."
The bi-monthly Road Safety Conference is a public service of the Automobile Association Philippines and the UP National Center for Transportation Studies with the help of Toyota Motor Philippines. Other concerns aired in the recent conference included billboards on wheels, unsafe trucks, road maintenance, and the role of the mass media in road safety.