THE apparent failure of the government to provide an effective transport system in the province, particularly in the city, seems to be a gain of the privately-managed transport supply industry.
This came after it was known that there are some 1,400 plus single motorcycles and over 200 units of four-wheel vehicles sold at a monthly average, report of the public utilities chaired by BM Aldner Damalerio showed. But the figure could still be more since the report did not include other transpo supply outfits operating in the city.
But it cited only at least three business outfits supplying and selling these modes of transportation. The report did not mention other supply outfits or other companies, whose service centers are mushrooming the city, like the Hyundai, Ford, Isuzu, Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan and KIA, among others.
The committee report said that DU Ek Sam Inc., has sold over 1,000 units of motorcycles Wrenleys Motor Plaza Inc, and Motor Trade Tagbilaran, over 200 units apiece monthly sales.
Toyota Motors Tagbilaran sold over 130 units per month; Mitsubishi, 40 units; and Nissan, 35 units, but the report still did not mention other companies dealing the same.
The city primarily is served by three-wheeled mode of transpo, the tricycle, considered the king of the road.
Also, it is being serviced by the single motorcycle-for-hire or “habal-habal,” which is considered a dangerous one that until now it is not legalized. But this mode is dominant in most of the towns, where there’s no public transport, except those privately operated.
The province, not too long ago, has welcomed the Southern Star, (popularly known as Ceres) apparently replacing the one of the oldest here, St. Jude Trans, to do business here. Now, it dominates in most franchised routes.
There were small players doing the same, like Dinorog Trans or Fatime Trans, Dory Transit (formerly Grace and Dory originated from G-Hernandez, Bohol) plying their respective authorized but limited routes, not around Bohol.
There are also transportation in a form of buses ferrying passengers from-and-to the city to Tubigon and city to Getafe in the northern part and other franchise areas.
But the common of them all, aside from “habal-habal,” is the multi-cab transformed into a passenger vehicle in almost every town, plying the routes, such as San Miguel-Talibon, tagbilaran-Baclayon-Albur-Loay, Tagbilaran-Lila, or Guindulman-Ubay and so on.
Another mode is the van-for-hire, a commonplace primarily operated privately.
Because of these development, heavy traffic and insufficiency of public parking spaces in the city and towns ensue to the detriment of the public, according to a concerned citizen. (rvo)
