Habal-habal featured in international magazine for kids

The habal-habal or motorcycle taxi used as a means of transportation in mostly mountainous areas in the province has been featured in an international magazine for children.

On Monday’s “24 Oras,” Kuya Kim reported that the habal-habal ride is one of the popular stories in the Kids' Almanac.

However, readers noticed that this was spelled as "Habel-habel" in the international publication.

The habal-habal is a popular means of transportation in the provinces because this type of motorcycle can carry three to five passengers at a time.

In the Visayas, Kuya Kim shared, pieces of wood are attached to the motorcycle as a form of extension seats for the passngers.

The habal-habal drivers lost a substantial amount of their income during the pandemic when authorities imposed health protocols to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and passengers were restricted to one at a time.

“Meron po tayong mga lugar na hindi kaya ng ating mga [jeep]. Ang maka-access lang po doon ay itong motorcycle o Habal-Habal,” said Aminoden Guro, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region X director.

["We have areas that cannot be reached by jeepneys. Only motorcycles or the Habal-Habal can access it."]

Its name came from its resemblance to the Skylab Space Station, which orbited the Earth in the 1970s.

Tricycles may be a common mode of public transportation in the Philippines, but did you know that there are different designs across the country?

Also featured in #KuyaKimAnoNa are the various designs of tricycles in western Visayas.

The Aklano Type, found in Panay Island, has two long seats facing each other at the back with a bench in front. The Iloilo Type, meanwhile, has two back-to-back seats.

According to Kuya Kim, tricycles were inspired from when the Japanese brought their motorcycles with sidecars, called the Rikuo, in the Philippines during World War II. -- Franchesca Viernes/BAP, GMA News