Makati City government personnel on Thursday padlocked the office of a firm engaged in a “habal-habal” motorcycle transport service for operating without a business permit.
The office of Angkas Training Center at Natividad Building along Chino Roces Avenue was shackled by enforcers of the city’s Business Permit and License Office after BPLO chief Maribert Pagente issued an Order of Desistance/Closure against the firm.
The closure came after BPLO inspectors, in coordination with representatives from the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board, Land Transformation Office and Police-Highway Patrol Group, inspected the establishment and found out it was operating without permits from the city government.
“The owner failed to present a valid Business Permit when our men, accompanied by other government officials visited and inspected the place,” an official of the city’s Information and Community Relation Division said.
ICRD officials said the closure of the establishment arose from a request made by the LTFRB to the Office of Mayor Abigail Binay to aid in apprehending the establishment, which was reportedly involved in many traffic accidents.
In Taguig City, “habal-habal” operation is prohibited, especially in Bonifacio Global City, upon the directive of Mayor Laarni Cayetano.
In Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, “motor taxis” are accepted as a practical mode of transportation which gets millions of people past gridlock. Owing to its slim form, motorbikes allow passengers to weave through traffic jams and navigate side-streets in ways that four-wheeled vehicles cannot.
In the Philippines, motorbike transportation is available in the form of “habal-habal,” both in rural and urban areas. Yet motorcycles in general have no safety measures in place, so commuters using these motor taxis always face the risk of an accident. Also, unlike tricycles, “habal-habal” are unregulated.
A few months ago, Transportation undersecretary for roads and concurrent Metro Manila Development Authority general manager Thomas Orbos was reprimanded by Secretary Arthur Tugade after he rode on the back of a motorcycle just to make a contract signing event in Bonifacio Global City.