Truckers’ protest pays off; 24/6 express lane lauded

By: Niña P. Calleja - 11 years ago

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Trucker groups protesting the Manila City government’s expanded truck ban for months has expressed elation over the decision of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) to open an express trade lane on Roxas Boulevard for their use 24 hours a day, six times a week.

In a resolution that took effect on Tuesday, the MMC finally allowed cargo trucks—both loaded and empty—to use the inner lane of Roxas Boulevard and other linking routes when going to or coming from Manila ports from Mondays to Sundays, except Fridays.

The resolution will be reviewed after three months. However, it will remain in effect until Dec. 10 to give truckers ample time to move goods.

Rupert Dayucot, president of the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines, called the MMC special traffic committee’s decision a “big deal” for their group.

According to him, under the expanded truck ban of the Manila City government, delivery of goods took 72 hours as the operating hours of truckers were limited. With the opening of the express lane, the turnaround period is now down to 48 hours, he told the Inquirer.

However, Dayucot noted that all the container yards in the Port Area remain congested, resulting in a little delay in the unloading of deliveries.

Congestion in Manila ports has worsened since December to the point that the Manila International Container Terminal and South Harbor are 99 percent occupied.

In its resolution, the MMC attributed this to the Manila ordinance, which took effect in February, banning eight-wheeler trucks with a gross weight of at least 4,500 kilograms from plying the city’s streets from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. The move, according to the city government, was aimed at easing traffic on Manila’s streets.

Protests, however, led city officials to grant a window period to truckers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

With the congestion problem affecting businesses and revenue collections, Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras sought an emergency meeting with the MMC—the policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority composed of the 17 mayors in Metro Manila—and MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino.

According to the MMC resolution, the truck ban hours, which are between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., will be suspended from Mondays to Sundays, except on Fridays, for truckers taking the express lane on Roxas Boulevard as well as the following alternate routes:

Trucks coming from Port Area to Cavitex can take R-10 straight ahead to Roxas Boulevard to Cavitex. From Port Area to South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), trucks can take R-10, A. Bonifacio straight to Roxas Boulevard, left to Quirino, right to Osmeña to SLEx.

From SLEx/Cavitex to Port Area, trucks can take Roxas Boulevard, straight ahead to Port Area and from SLEx straight to Osmeña, right to Quirino.

Truckers passing through other major thoroughfares, according to Tolentino, would be covered by the truck ban.