Cebu City mayor suspends bike registration

Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella suspended on Saturday afternoon all bike registrations an hour after Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) spokesperson Ronnie Nadera told cyclists to register their bikes for safety purposes. 

“Taking into consideration the welfare of the Cebuanos, the requirement on mandatory registration of bicycles and prohibition of their use in Cebu City streets is suspended indefinitely, effective today,” said Labella on his official Facebook page.

The mayor at the same time suspended the Driver’s ID requirement for drivers of public utility vehicles.

He also directed the CCTO to immediately facilitate the unimpeded operation of all types of public transport as long as they have special permits from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Cebu City allowed businesses to reopen under general community quarantine (GCQ) last June 1. Limitations however were imposed on the number of public transport vehicles and the number of passengers per vehicle. 

Motorcycle backriding remains prohibited, causing some motorcycle users to resort to using bicycles for commuting to work.

Some netizens also called for adding bike lanes before the bike registration was announced. 

The CCTO meanwhile defended the arrest of violators of the no backriding policy of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

“Kame usa lang sa gitahasan sa pag-implementar sa balaod mao ayaw mo og kasuko namo...kung magsakit mo kay gidakop mo, sabta me kay kung gidakop ka meaning naay kay violation. ayaw pag luom og kasuko sa CCTO kay imu man ng sala nganong nadakpan ka,” read the CCTO post. (We are just implementers of the law. We ask that you don’t hate us for what we do. If you are mad because we arrested you, know that you would not be apprehended without just reason. Don’t hate us for what you did wrong.)