Legalize Operation of the Indigenous Habal-Habal – Solon

PASAY CITY, Philippines, Dec. 5 -- The Philippines House of Representatives (16th Congress) issued the following news release:

The owners and operators of motorcycles-for-hire or "habal-habal" will soon be required to register their units with their Local Government Units (LGU).

House Bill 2322, authored by Rep. Henry Oaminal (2nd District, Misamis Occidental), seeks to legalize the operation of habal-habal, an indigenous means of transportation in far flung barangays of the country.

The bill seeks to amend the Local Government Code or Republic Act 7160.

Oaminal said the main objective of the bill is to ensure the safety of the traveling public while maintaining a functional yet low-cost means of transportation with minimal financial disruption.

At present, Oaminal said, the habal-habal is already accepted by the riding public but it remains an illegal means of transportation since it is not registered.

"Passengers who are injured or even killed while riding the habal-habal cannot claim benefits because this industry is not covered by insurance. On the other hand, the drivers or operators of the habal-habal face harassment and mulcting from traffic enforcers," Oaminal said.

Under the bill, owners of habal-habals shall apply for registration with the LGUs where they reside subject to the guidelines of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

The owners of habal-habals shall be required to obtain insurance coverage for third party liability prior to application of the franchise to operate their units.

The habal-habal shall be prohibited from operating along the national highway and will be allowed a maximum speed of 40 kilometers per hour.

Oaminal said the habal-habal is a motorcycle modified to seat more than two persons. It is used in provinces where jeepneys and tricycles cannot stand the rough, steep terrain and narrow roads. Also called "skylab", the habal-habal comes in two forms. The simpler form is a motorcycle with an extended seat protruding over the back wheel. It usually accommodates four persons, including the driver, who moves forward over the gas tank for better balance. A fifth, smaller person, may also sit sidesaddle on the gas tank in front of the driver.

The more complex form of the habal-habal can seat up to 13 persons, including their baggage. It has extensions consisting of wooden planks placed across the back seat of the motorcycle to form the seats for the passengers. Baggage, ranging from vegetables and groceries to chickens and even goats, is placed at strategic areas within the vehicle.

CC AutoTriage1pm-131205-30TagarumaMar-4568367 30TagarumaMar