National News
Motorcycle-for-hire o habal-habal, gagawing legal
Isinusulong ni Senador Edgardo “Sonny” Angara na maging legal na ang motorcycle-for-hire o habal-haba bilang alternatibong mass transport.
Bunsod ito ng kawalang ng mahusay na sistema ng transportasyon sa Metro Manila.
Sa pahayag ni Angara, lumalala ang trapiko sapagkat laging nasisira ang mass transit system o ang Metro Rail Transit (MRT) kung kaya’t maraming commuters ang walang magawa kundi sumakay sa habal habal.
“Technically, this increasingly-popular mode of transport is still considered illegal under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which covers the registration and operation of all motor vehicles in the country,” ayon kay Angara.
Ginawang halimbawa din ni Angara ang Angkas na pinayagan mag-operate sa loob ng anim na buwan simula noong Hunyo 8 bilang bahagi ng pilot-run na “motorcycle taxis.”
“Commuting in Metro Manila has become very challenging. A typical commuter has to allocate at least two hours to get to work or school, and that is if their regular modes of transport are available. What if the MRT breaks down? Kulang pa ang dalawang oras mo sa byahe,” ayon kay Angara.
Dagdag pa niya, libo libong Pilipino ang napeperwisyo sa tuwing nagkaka-aberya sa mga tren karamihan sa kanila ay habal na ang sinasakyan para mas mabilis makarating sa destinasyon nila. Mas mura pa umano ito kumpara sa Grab.
Bakit bawal sa ngayon ang habal-habal?
Nakatakda sa Republic Act No. 4136 o ang Land Transportation and Traffic Code na pinapayagan ang rehistrasyon ng motorsiklo bilang pribado o gamit ng gobyerno, at ipinagbabawal itong ilista bilang vehicle-for-hire.
“However, individuals and even unaccredited transport groups, continue to utilize motorcycles for public transport despite explicit prohibition of such operation under the same law,” paliwanag ni Angara.
Aniya, matagal nang nandyan ang motorcycle-for-hire at sa ilang lalawigan, ikinokonsidera itong pangunahing sistema ng public transportation.
“The demand for this service simply cannot be ignored, which is why I have filed a bill seeking to legalize the operation of motorcycles-for-hire,” ani Angara.
Ayon kay Angara, layunin ng Senate Bill No. 1025 na amendahan ang RA 4136 upang payagan ang motorsiklo na iparehistro sa Land Transportation Office (LTO) bilang “for hire” at maaaring gamitin bilang commercial vehicle na magsakay ng pasahero at produkto.
“In order to be registered for transporting passengers, a motorcycle must have a minimum engine displacement of 125 cubic centimeters and a backbone-type built,” ayon sa panukala.
Inaatasan nito ang LTO na tiyakin ang roadworthiness ng motorcycle-for-hire bago iparehistro.
“To further ensure their safety, no modifications on the motorcycles will be allowed, except for the installation, based on safe engineering design specifications, of motorcycle luggage carriers, saddlebags, step boards or foot pegs and appropriate speed limiter and monitoring device,” paliwanag pa ni Angara.
