Motorcycle-for-hire operators warned

CEBU, Philippines - The Traffic Enforcement and Management (TEAM) in Mandaue City will issue a Temporary Operator’s Permit to motorcycle-for-hire operators found to have fake franchises.

This drive will start on October 16, a day after the deadline for operators to have their franchises reviewed by the city government ends.

City administrator James Abadia said the city will no longer extend the deadline since this had been extended twice previously.

He said the TEAM is now deputized to apprehend and impound motorcycles at Jadewell’s impounding area.

Of the 2,000 motorcycle franchise holders in the city, only 962, as of last Monday afternoon, have submitted their franchises for review.

Last July, Mayor Jonas Cortes through an executive order directed the city administrator’s office to accept renewal of franchises of motorcycles for hire in the city.

In his executive order, Cortes said the city administrator's office should also make sure the renewal of franchises would not exceed the 2,000 franchises which is allowed under Section 9 of City Ordinance No. 032 series of 1991.

The city administrator's office should also ensure that during the application for franchise renewal, franchise holders have made valid payments of their previous dues through the cross-referencing of the names of the franchisee and the official receipt number as shown in the franchise with the records at the city treasurer's office and the masterlist kept by the office.

Aside from the renewal of franchises Abadia’s office also ordered his staff last August to conduct a thorough review of all the franchises issued to motorcycle operators to eliminate the issuance of fake franchises.

A review of the list of franchise holders came following the discovery that most franchises of motorcycles-for-hire operators are fake.