Habal-habal drivers trained on road safety

CEBU, Philippines — To lessen vehicular accidents involving motorcycles, the Cebu City government, through Angkas, an online motorcycle booking application, has gathered and trained habal-habal drivers in the city on traffic rules and road safety.

About 100 newly registered Angkas drivers from different habal-habal drivers organizations in the city were gathered yesterday at the Cebu City Hall.

The drivers were orientated about traffic rules and identifying street signs. The drivers were also informed about traffic regulations, as well as the proper transportation pricing of habal-habal.

Lyndon Ubaob, who heads the Osmeña Fuente Habal-habal Drivers Association and also an Angkas driver, said the purpose of the program is for all the habal-habal drivers to learn the proper and right standard of a habal-bahal driver.

Ubaob said the new registered members of Angkas will have orientation headed by the Two-wheeled Motorize Vehicle Monitoring Coordination and Assistance Unit (TMV-MCAU).

Angkas will give sanctions to members who are not in proper uniform and vest during their duty, he added.

A passenger can report the driver if there is an offense committed.  They can report the driver and the plate number directly to the office of the Angkas Cebu at F. Cabahug Street, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

As of August 2018, the registered Angkas drivers within the Cebu City increased to about 4000 individuals.

Cebu City Transportation Office Head Francisco Ouano said they always received complaints from commuters about some habal-habal drivers who charge exorbitant fare.

Ouano said an ordinance is needed to apprehend drivers who are overcharging.

Aside from the pricing rate, the drivers were also educated about proper hygiene, as well as the road safety that includes wearing safety gears and vest at night time.

“Importante gyud ni, especially ang helmet.  Naa gyud dapat silay helmet every time nga mamasahero sila, apil ilang mga pasahero,” Ouano said.

They were also reminded that they are not allowed to carry two passengers.

This program is intensified especially because of Mayor Tomas Osmena’s pronouncement on his Facebook post that the city government is planning to apply the Angkas system to the habal-habal drivers in the city.

On the same Facebook post, the mayor stated that the motorcycle is the most practical means of transportation, especially in places that are not accessible by public transportation like jeepneys or taxi. —/GAN (FREEMAN) Carl James T. Cabarles