Manila council OKs ‘bawal sabit’ ordinance

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila city council has passed a “bawal sabit” ordinance prohibiting commuters from hitching a ride by hanging onto the rear or sides of public utility vehicles.

Twenty councilors, out of 38, were present when Ordinance 8545 was passed on third and final reading on Thursday.

The ordinance, authored by District 1 Councilor Martin Isidro Jr., seeks to “prohibit hanging onto or riding in the rear and top part of any (PUV) colloquially known as ‘sabit,’ and imposing penalties for drivers and passengers in violation thereof.”

Under the law, persons using roller blades, skateboards and bicycles are also prohibited from holding onto bars of PUVs like jeepneys, tricycles and electric tricycles.

The ordinance would support Republic Act 4136, the country’s Land Transportation and Traffic Code, particularly Section 51, which also contains the same prohibition.

Isidro thanked his fellow lawmakers for supporting his proposed ordinance, reiterating the need to enforce it to prevent accidents on Manila’s roads.

Passengers, drivers and “kundoktor,” whose role is to collect fares and guide passengers, who violate the ordinance will be fined P500 for a first offense, P1,500 on second offense and P3,000 on third offense, according to radio reports.

The ordinance awaits the signature of Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan before it takes effect 15 days after publication, said Manila Vice Mayor and city council presiding officer John Marvin Servo-Nieto.