habal-habal now in MM?

**RedHorse** · January 30th, 2006 09:09 AM

MMDA cracks down on ‘habal-habal’

First posted 03:52am (Mla time) Jan 30, 2006
By Tarra V. Quismundo
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on page A20 of the Jan. 30, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

IN THE midst of heavy Metro traffic, they alone continue to move, sliding in and out of the narrow spaces in between vehicles.

But luck may soon run out for the so-called habal-habal, private motorcycles being used as public transport, which are increasingly becoming popular among commuters who must “fly” to their destination.

Worried about the dangers it may pose to the commuting public, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has begun a crackdown on these illegal motorcycles-for-hire, the agency’s traffic chief said yesterday.

“There is a need to put them under surveillance. And we are already apprehending the violators we see on the road, because we’ve received many reports about their illegal operations,” said MMDA Traffic Operations Center (TOC) executive director Angelito Vergel de Dios.

He said their traffic enforcers have been deployed to places where habal-habal are known to operate.

“It’s hard to distinguish between private motorcycles
and those for hire, but through surveillance, we will be able to detect those taking one route habitually, with different passengers every time. Once we get proof, that’s the time we move in,” explained the traffic chief.

The habal-habal first became popular in rural areas in Visayas and Mindanao. The two-wheeled public conveyance reached Metro Manila last year, and came to the attention of traffic authorities three months ago, Vergel de Dios said.

“The [rider] and the driver both benefit because the passenger gets to his destination fast, and the driver earns money,” he added.

Based on the monitoring of the MMDA-TOC, one known route of the habal-habal is from the EDSA-Ayala Avenue intersection in Makati City to Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

The passengers are charged P20 each.

“Their operations are illegal. You could only use motorcycles as public transport if you have a sidecar,” said Vergel de Dios, referring to tricycles.

Reports of habal-habal operations in Metro Manila came at a time when the growing number of private motorcycle owners has become a road safety concern.

Accidents involving motorcycles have risen steadily in the last four years. Last year, the number of cases in the first three months were more than double the total number of accidents for the entire year of 2004.

The database of the MMDA’s Metro Manila Accident Reporting System showed that road accidents involving motorcycles totaled 4,156 last year, up by almost 150% percent from the 2004 figure of 1,706 incidents.

Despite the risks, motorcycle users have continued to increase, based on figures of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

As cited by the MMDA in a report, the LTO received 60,462 applications for motorcycle registration in the first half of last year.

**1D4LV** · January 30th, 2006 09:12 AM

di pa ako nakakakita nyan. ano ba itsura nyan?

**pajerokid** · January 30th, 2006 09:21 AM

i assume motor na may angkas hehe

What'll these people think of next?!

**JohnM** · January 30th, 2006 09:42 AM

It's actually very common in Thailand too. One story goes that when the Prime Minister got stuck in traffic on his way to a very important meeting, he got off his limo and flagged down a public motorcycle.

Normal motorcycle lang siguro itsura. One saturday dun sa usual tambayan ng mga FX papuntang Ayala, may isang motor na nakatambay at may barker pa. Ayala din ang byahe.

You should see the habal-habals of Davao. May outriggers sya that can carry 2 people on each side. Two face front two face backwards. That does not include the people riding on the motorcycle itself. Expect baskets of vegetables and some livestock to go with the mix. Kaya kung may aksidente tepok agad lahat. Lalo na kung bus ang kalaban sa highway.

**afrasay** · January 30th, 2006 09:48 AM

hmmm...mayrun na pala nito dito. I guess it would be hard to distinguish which is which. kawawa yun legitimate na angkas sigurado daming pa stop na motor ang mga MMDA. Instead of going after this "alternative" mode of transport, why don't they just use their man power to capture carjackers and carnappers...oh I see walang kita dito.

**1D4LV** · January 30th, 2006 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by SeminaristaKuno

It's actually very common in Thailand too. One story goes that when the Prime Minister got stuck in traffic on his way to a very important meeting, he got off his limo and flagged down a public motorcycle.

Normal motorcycle lang siguro itsura. One saturday dun sa usual tambayan ng mga FX papuntang Ayala, may isang motor na nakatambay at may barker pa. Ayala din ang byahe.

You should see the habal-habals of Davao. May outriggers sya that can carry 2 people on each side. Two face front two face backwards. That does not include the people riding on the motorcycle itself. Expect baskets of vegetables and some livestock to go with the mix. Kaya kung may aksidente tepok agad lahat. Lalo na kung bus ang kalaban sa highway.

hmmm. just got home from bangkok, di ko ata napansin to ah.

anyway, eto ba yung actual two wheel motorcycle tapos may parang kahoy na naka adjacent sa seat para gawing upuan?

**Mguy** · January 30th, 2006 09:52 AM

Dami nyan sa Indonesia. I believe it is legal too.

I remember years ago, there was an attempt to legalize that here sa Manila. I've seen them running around named as "SOLO TAXI".

**NightRock** · January 30th, 2006 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by happy_gilmore

hmmm. just got home from bangkok, di ko ata napansin to ah.

anyway, eto ba yung actual two wheel motorcycle tapos may parang kahoy na naka adjacent sa seat para gawing upuan?

Sa bangkok pag naka kita ka ng mga Paradahan ng maraming Motor.. yung normal lang na motor walang side car.. noong una sa isip ko dami namang mag kaka barkada ng mga motor club na to.... tapos may nag alok sakin lanya na byahe pala yon.. Funny thing is yung mga Chicks na naka mini skirt sumasakay din minsan 2 pa..

Mas matindi nga yung sa davao hehehe kaka takot na sumakay don mukhang ma babali yung kahoy hehehe