Metro truck ban returns on Dec 14

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will again ban trucks from the streets of the metropolis starting Monday to ease vehicular congestion on the roads during the holiday season.

“Vehicles traveling on the streets of Metro Manila increase as Christmas approaches so we will return the implementation of the truck ban beginning Monday to help ease traffic,” MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said in a statement on Thursday.

With the ban back in place, trucks will again not be allowed on main roads in the metropolis from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

On the beltway Edsa, from the Magallanes interchange in Makati City to North Avenue in Quezon City, trucks will again be banned round the clock all days of the week.

Celine Pialago, spokesperson for the MMDA, said truck traffic would be allowed only from North Avenue to Balintawak and from Magallanes to Roxas Boulevard.

The MMDA suspended the truck ban in March to facilitate smooth movement of essential goods during the coronavirus lockdown in Luzon. —MARIEJO S. RAMOS