Tugade berates Usec. Orbos for riding ‘habal-habal’

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Friday berated Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Thomas Orbos for admitting that he rode a "habal-habal" to reach an event organized by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on time.

"I was really bothered if not alarmed by the statement of Usec. Orbos, p*tang ina naghabal-habal siya," Tugade said during the signing of the memorandum of agreement on Toll Collection Interoperability in Taguig City.

In his opening message, Orbos said that he took a "habal-habal" just to reach the said event on time.

The Transportation official, who is also the general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), earlier presided a coordination meeting with Metro Manila mall operators to discuss possible traffic-alleviating measures for the Christmas season at the MMDA office in Makati City.

"Bawal ho ang 'habal-habal' sa kalsada at lalong I will not tolerate making a function in DOTr as an excuse to use 'habal-habal,'" Tugade said.

During his speech earlier, Orbos retracted his admission that he took a "habal-habal" and said that he only requested a passing motorcycle rider to take him to the venue.

"Habal-habal" is a colloquial term for an unregulated mode of transportation wherein private motorcycle riders give commuters a ride in exchange for a fee.

"I don't like it, Mr. Orbos. We should not at all allow or encourage the use of 'habal-habal,'" Tugade fumed.

The Transportation chief said what Orbos did was unbecoming of an official of the DOTr. —KG/KVD, GMA News