Mandaue traders want truck ban moved to 6 p.m

Mandaue City’s business community voiced complaints over the two-month truck ban imposed by the city government that started last Monday.

Eric Mendoza, president of the Mandaue City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), said business owners told him that the 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. truck ban may cause problems for their cargo trucks coming from outside the city.

He said their trucks may be caught by the heavy traffic late in the afternoon, resulting in sanctions and delayed deliveries.

Mendoza said business owners will be forced to spend extra to pay for overtime and fines.

Mendoza proposed that the truck ban be imposed starting at 6 p.m. to give more leeway to cargo trucks coming from outside Mandaue City.

He said he plans to meet with the City Council to make his proposal.

The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) said the first day of the truck ban in the city’s major thoroughfares was successful since most of the truck owners heeded their call.

Team operations chief Edwin Ermac said the ban will minimize traffic congestion during peak hours.

He said only a few trucks were flagged down and ordered to return last Monday.

Ermac said their traffic enforcers examine the registration papers of trucks to determine its gross weight.

Trucks weighing at least 4,500 kilograms are prohibited to enter the city’s major thoroughfares from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. except on Sundays and holidays.

Exempted from the ban are trucks carrying perishable items and ambulances.

Ermac said he hopes the ban will be successful and be passed into an ordinance.