Sogod, Southern Leyte - Transportation

Transportation

The medium of transportation in the municipality is the potpot, a tricycle which carries nine to twelve passengers including the driver. But people in the far flung areas use the habal-habal, a hired motorcycle which carries less than eight persons including the driver. The potpots in Sogod has their assigned color scheme which indicates their area. There are three colored potpots which roam towards the entire vicinity of the municipality and other towns, which are Blue, Red and White. The Blue ones are assigned only on the poblacion (town proper) and in the barrios that is equidistant to the poblacion (Barangays Mabicay, Pandan, San Isidro and San Miguel in Sogod, and Barangays Casao and Santa Cruz in Bontoc). The white potpots are assigned westwards from Barangay Casao, to the town of Tomas Oppus. The red potpots are traversing eastwards from Barangay San Isidro to Barangays Buac Gamay, Consolacion and Maac. The fare ranges from PHP 6.00 to P10.00 in the entire poblacion and its environs in blue potpots; PHP 10.00 is minimum rate with PHP 1.00 for every succeeding barangay from Sogod to Barangay Maac in the red motorcabs; PHP 10.00 is the minimum rate from Sogod to Tomas Oppus in white motorcabs (potpot).

In days without school, the rates are increased with P1.00 without further notice. The habals-habals or single motorcycles are used as modes of transportation in carrying commuters and excess baggage to distant and mountainous areas in the municipality. Its area covers the barangays northwards from Barangay Suba (Crossing Sawong) to Barangay Kahupian and to Mahaplag; Barangay Suba (Crossing Sawong) to Barangay San Francisco; Barangays Magatas and Benit to Barangays Kauswagan and Hipantag; westwards from Barangays Milagroso, Santa Maria to Barangay Libas; Barangays Mabicay and Pangi to Barangays Libas, Ta-a, and Cabadbaran; Barangays Libas to Barangay Hilaan to Bontoc; Barangay Hilaan (Bontoc) to Barangay San Vicente (Bontoc); and on the east covers Barangays Buac Daku, Malinao and Maria Plana. There are no fixed rates in commuting habals-habals because it is not registered as transportation in Land Transportation Office (LTO). But the suggested fare is P15.00 to P50.00, depending on the distance of its destination. Like the potpots, the rates are increased when it comes to summer. On traversing from Sogod to other places, there are plenty of vehicles that accommodate in Sogod because the town is the major terminus in the south central portion in Leyte Island. It is the vital link in connecting Visayas to Mindanao. The buses, jeepneys, and for hire vans terminate from Sogod to Maasin City, Ormoc City, Tacloban City, Bato-Hilongos, Liloan, Hinunangan and Silago. Fairs are organized by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).