MANILA, Philippines–To better address the problem of port congestion in Manila, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), in close coordination with the national government, is planning to open temporary “last mile” routes for cargo trucks.
During the agency’s Sunday radio program, MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino said the move was among those discussed during a recent Cabinet cluster meeting on ways to clear the Port of Manila of piled up shipments due to the expanded truck ban being implemented by the city government.
“During the cluster meeting, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), truckers and warehouse owners were asked to propose solutions to the port congestion and the ‘last mile’ [route] was discussed,” Tolentino added.
In transportation, the term refers to the movement of people and goods from a transport hub to its final destination. As far as the MMDA is concerned, it concerns the movement of cargo trucks from Manila ports to warehouses inside and outside the metropolis.
“These last mile routes aim to help those trucks coming [from] Manila which are using the [24/7] express [trade] lanes to get to their warehouses in other parts of the Metro like Sucat, Parañaque and destinations outside Metro Manila like Cavite and Laguna,” he said.
According to Tolentino, truckers remain unable to complete their deliveries to warehouses because once they leave the 24/7 trade lane, they could still be apprehended for violating the truck ban in other areas in the metropolis.
The last mile routes, Tolentino said, would enable cargo trucks to operate outside truck ban hours.
He clarified, however, that before the MMDA could map out these routes, it would need to get a list of warehouses from the PPA and customs bureau.
“We have already asked for the list and we are waiting only for the reply of the offices concerned,” Tolentino said, adding that the routes may be used for a period of two weeks starting this month.
“This will be a great help to the economy especially now that Christmas is approaching. We want to be able to clear the ports of cargo to prevent the price of goods from going up,” he said.