Bohol governor backs habal-habal’s legalization

TAGBILARAN CITY — Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto is proposing that Congress to pass a resolution to temporarily lift the ban on habal-habal or motorcycle for hire until a law regulating its operations is enacted.

Chatto said it is possible for the two houses of Congress to come up with a resolution to temporarily defer the ban, and this may be possible with the approval of President Duterte.

His proposal is being studied by the Provincial Legal Office. The governor then will be meeting with the three Boholano congressmen to discuss his proposal.

A total ban on the habal-habal will impact on the poor who depend on the low-cost transport, the governor said. Most of the commuters rely on the habal-habal because they have no access to regular bus or jeepney service, Chatto added.

The governor said he wanted to avert a transport crisis.

Even with the proposal for a moratorium on the habal-habal ban, safety and accountability issues must be assured, he said.

Chatto said when he was a member of the House, he filed a bill together with then Cebu Rep. Ramon Durano seeking to legalize habal-habal operations.

The governor said his bill, which was passed in the House, wasn't able to see light in the Senate, seeks to allow local government units to regulate habal-habal operations.

Aside from providing transportation options to unserviced areas in the country, habal-habal drivers are being used by law enforcement agencies as agents to solve crime, the governor concluded.