‘TOL’ IN CEBU CITY. Senator Francis “TOL” Tolentino speaks before the 4,000 habal-habal riders in Cebu City, telling them the Land Transportation Office’s decision to scrap its memorandum to ban temporary plates beginning January 1 next year as a result of the united voice and opposition of the motorcycle riders’ community.
Habal-habal riders warmly welcome Senator “TOL” in Cebu
SENATOR Francis ‘TOL’ Tolentino was warmly welcomed by 4,000 “habal-habal” or motorcycle taxi riders during his visit to Cebu City yesterday.
In his speech at the Second Habal-habal Summit, Tolentino cited the importance of millions of motorcycle riders closing ranks on issues that affect them.
“The recent suspension by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) of its memorandum banning temporary plates beginning January 1, 2025 was the result of your united voice and opposition,” the senator said.
It was Tolentino who first questioned the controversial policy in August, after seeing a viral video on social media, where hundreds of riders were being made to line up at the LTO regional office in Cebu to secure a permit for temporary plates.
“To get a permit, you pay P40 to the LTO. If not, the fine is P5,000. But none of this is your fault. Many riders are forced to use temporary plates because of the LTO’s backlog itself. Isn’t that crazy?” Tolentino asked the habal-habal riders, who expressed their strong agreement.
“This indefinite suspension gives you much-deserved relief for now, but it does not solve this issue. LTO must ramp up the production of plates for riders in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and make sure that these are distributed promptly to motorcycle owners,” he stressed.
The habal-habal is integral to Cebu’s public transport system, and even predates the official introduction of motorcycle taxis.
