Habal-habal: Is it needed? (Part 1)

My first "habal-habal" ride was back in 1997. While doing the master plan of Kapalong, (Davao del Norte), and we needed to visit every barangay for consultations. Gupitan was a special challenge because it is the biggest barangay (in the province, too). Half of it was virgin forest, and most places were inhabited by lumads. It is so big it is bigger than the entire province of Siqujor! And much of it is inaccessible.

It had taken two trips up to the barangay center in the mountainous forest -the longer one, was by habal-habal; the rest we walked and climbed, the entire journey taking up most of the day. There was a makeshift but orderly habal-habal terminal at the Poblacion (Maniki). Spending the first night in Gupitan was a first, very refreshing…the moon and the stars shimmering in the open black skies due to the absence of electricity.

But this is not about Gupitan; this is about the habal-habal. The naked truth is that it would have taken us 2-3 days to reach the place if not for habal-habal, walking all the way. Imagine the people there who depended on their living through commerce with Maniki. If habal-habal was not there, they would perish. Good they learned how to catch fish by electrification. And that's the very reason why the Local Government of Kapalong tolerated…no, even supported the terminal. Habal-habal was simply indispensable to the lives of the people in Gupitan. For all the other barangays as well if I'm not mistaken. And probably for most of the barangays in most of the towns and cities in the country. We can ask around the country and check if this is not true.

Here is where we can't hide the truth. Two-wheelers, whether private or public, play a very important role in the lifeline of any LGU. We all know about the objections, especially on the safety issues (and we will discuss those later), but it does not erase the fact that we need them today. Dr. Marie Danielle V. Guillen, in her academic study in 2003 said, "Interviews conducted with local officials also indicated that "habal-habal" are not causing any problem in the city and are actually solving mobility issues by being able to service those areas that are not passable to ordinary motor vehicles." Her study area was Davao City at that time.

A big chunk of the country's trips is served by the habal-habal. If we stop them now, I dare say the country would be paralyzed. It does not matter whether it is a rural need or an urban need (do we now discriminate Filipinos?). Government exists to provide services to its people (especially LGUs), and the market responds to those needs. Unless the government provides "alternative modes" we have to accept the habal-habal. Regulate them we should, but to simply kill the service, especially when tainted with discrimination, is something we have to think about very, very carefully. (To be continued)