Rama creates motortaxi drivers’ coordinating office

AN OFFICE that will regulate the operations of habal-habal, or motortaxis, will be created in Cebu City.

This was after Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama issued Executive Order (EO) 8 Series of 2023, which ordered the creation of the Cebu City Habal-habal Drivers’ Coordinating Office (CCHCO).

Mayor Rama signed the EO on May 23, 2023, and it will apply to all habal-habal drivers who are residents and registered voters of Cebu City.

Section 5 of the EO stipulates the functions of the office, including:

To create a database of all habal-habal drivers in the City of Cebu;

To conduct awareness seminars and information campaigns relating to road safety, rights, and obligations of habal-habal drivers;

To build linkages with various habal-habal drivers’ associations;

To coordinate with the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) relating to matters involving the designation of routes and terminals for habal-habal drivers;

To facilitate and aid barangay and/or grassroots habal-habal associations;

Other matters necessarily incidental to effectuate the functions of the CCHCO.

The EO also stipulates that the CCHCO will have a maximum of five employees unless there is a need to augment them.

The CCHCO will be composed of an executive director who will take charge of the daily operations of the office, an administrative officer who will take charge of the consolidation of data relating to accredited habal-habal drivers in the city, and an administrative assistant who will assist the administrative officer.

The EO will take effect immediately from the date of its signing and will remain effective until it will be revoked. /

/ SUNSTAR FILE EDITOR: DELTA C. LETIGIO COORDINATED. Habal-habal or motorcycle-for-hire drivers wait for passengers in the vicinity of JY Square, Lahug, Cebu City in 2018. The Cebu City government will be forming a coordinating office for habal-habal drivers in the city as ordered by Mayor Michael Rama on May 29, 2023.