EDITORIAL - A duty to help

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has long been a supporter of habal-habal, the only means of transportation in the upland areas. Despite the illegality of its operations, the city even allowed habal-habal to ply the streets anywhere in the city.

When Angkas was introduced to the city, Osmeña was quick to support the motorcycle ride-hailing app. He even went as far as attending hearings in Manila to join calls for the government to legalize Angkas’ operation.

Osmeña’s strong support for habal-habal and Angkas is understandable. For him, it’s the riding public that has been benefitting from their operations considering the lack of public transport in remote areas of the city.

And when the Supreme Court granted a petition against Angkas and issued a temporary restraining order against its operations, the city rushed to the side of those motorcycle drivers who are affected by the decision.

In fact, the City Council has approved a resolution sponsored by Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos granting P15 million financial assistance to Angkas and habal-habal drivers in the city. The city has at least 4,000 Angkas and 2,500 habal-habal drivers.

Many see the city’s move as a natural reaction to the difficulty thousands of Angkas and habal-habal drivers now face following the Supreme Court decision. After all, it is duty-bound to help its constituents.

However, it’s not only Angkas and habal-habal drivers who are facing livelihood predicaments these days. Around the city, there are thousands of farmers, vendors, underpaid workers, and unemployed people who badly need assistance from the city.

City officials cannot just turn a blind eye to them knowing the fact that these people are also their constituents. Like those Angkas and habal-habal drivers, these people are also in dire need of immediate assistance from the city government.

We understand City Hall has also set aside programs and projects for these people. But we hope those programs and projects are as immediate as the assistance the city is extending to the motorcycle drivers.