Government supervision and control is being sought in the operations of the “habal-habal”. Instead of a total ban the habal-habal, the call to regulate it has become a common sentiment among its drivers and the riding public.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) regional office was scheduled to suppress erring motorists and to stop habal-habal operation across the province since yesterday. However, the plight of habal-habal drivers caught public attention.
Alfredo Gutierrez, Jr., president of the Tagbilaran Private Motor Service Association (TPMSA) – a group of habal-habal drivers in the city, that are willing to comply with the transportation code such as the mandatory wearing of helmets and limiting their passenger to one.
The safety of backriders on single motorcycles for hire has been the major concern of authorities pushing to outlaw habal-habal operations.
