Clamor still on vs Manila truck ban despite 2 express lanes

MANILA, Philippines–Saying that the continuous implementation of the expanded truck ban in Manila and Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01 against colorum trucks may adversely affect the country’s economic growth, an official of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has urged the government to put on hold the implementation of the two policies until the end of the year.

PCCI president Alfredo M. Yao issued the appeal on Tuesday as he stressed that the worsening congestion problem at the Port of Manila would require the temporary suspension of both policies until port operations return to normal.

“We need to do these things slowly, depending on the capacity or how fast the agencies can process all the applications,” Yao told reporters in an interview.

“There is no room anymore for finger-pointing as to who should be blamed. But we need to work on the remedy now and what we are suggesting is for us to go back to pre-February levels, meaning to have a situation without the expanded truck ban policy and other new policies,” he said.

Under the policy aimed at easing traffic flow in Manila, eight wheelers and vehicles with a gross weight of above 4,500 kilos have been barred from plying the city’s streets between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. As a concession to truckers groups who went on a “trucking holiday” to protest the move, the city government said they could also operate between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Two 24/7 express trade lanes were also opened for their exclusive use on Roxas Boulevard and on Quirino Avenue-Osmeña Highway and South Superhighway.

On the other hand, JAO No. 2014-01 issued by the Department of Transportation and Communications, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Land Transportation Office which took effect on June 19 imposed stricter fines on colorum vehicles.

The penalty for first-time offenders was P1 million for buses, P200,000 for trucks and vans, P50,000 for jeepneys and P120,000 for cars.

After some government and business officials expressed concern over the possible repercussions on the economy of the crackdown against colorum trucks, the LTFRB gave operators until Aug. 15 to apply for a provisional authority to protect them from apprehension. However, they should have their franchise applications approved before the Oct. 17 deadline, the agency warned.