Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte and Benguet Representative Eric Yap recently filed a proposed measure regulating the operation of motorcycles-for-hire of habal-habal to ensure the safety of commuting public.

Duterte stressed that motorcycle ride-sharing has been regarded as one of the most popular modes of informal transportation especially during the onset of the coronavirus disease pandemic two years ago.

"Despite its practicality and convenience, a large number of motorcycles-for-hire are not registered, making their services illegal due to lack of insurance coverage and ungoverned by laws on common carriers," Duterte said.

House Bill 4470 or the Motorcycles-for-Hire Act seeks to regulate the operation of motorcycles-for-hire, including habal-habal, thereby making the said mode of transportation safer and relatively a sustainable option for the commuting public, the riders and other road users.

Duterte explained that the recent innovations in technology have opened an opportunity for alternative modes of public conveyance, such as motorcycles-for-hire, to thrive as a popular and accessible mode of transportation, particularly in highly congested public roads, including unpaved roads in rural communities.

Yap, meanwhile, cited that to maximize their operations, motorcycles-for-hire would be allowed to operate using digital booking platforms or would be designated their own terminals.