Policy research on habal-habal wins BARRM project award

Policy research on the use of habal-habal or single motorcycle as a mode of transportation won first place at a capacity-building project in Maguindanao, the Bangsamoro Government announced Thursday.

According to the BARMM, researcher Atty. Bai Sandra Sadialan said she was inspired by local drivers using "habal-habal" who are in need of an alternative income.

BARMM said Sandialan’s research hopes to regularize and legalize habal-habal as a mode of transportation in the region.

“We look forward [to] how to legalize the habal-habal operation in Maguindanao, somehow the local drivers would have an alternative source of income,” Sadialan said in a statement.

The research titled “Habal-habal as a mode of Transportation in Maguindanao: Its benefits, Issues and Regulation” was awarded Best Research at the “BARMM on Policy Research.”

Sandialan the award came with a P30,000 cash prize.

Meanwhile, Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim stressed the importance of policy research.

“Policy research is very important in our line of work… expect us to provide policies that are [evidence] based and responsive to the reality of the Bangsamoro,” Ebrahim said in a video message.

BARMM said the policy research project aimed to promote the role of research in policy-making and to further capacitate the participating employees. — DVM, GMA News