Manila lifts new truck ban but…

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—In preparation for the 23rd World Economic Forum to be hosted by the country from May 21 to 23, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada agreed on Monday to lift for eight days the modified truck ban being implemented by the city government.

Through Executive Order No. 49, Estrada approved the request of Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras for a moratorium on the expanded truck ban starting Tuesday up to May 20.

The eight-day break was expected to give the national government enough time to decongest the Port of Manila before the international forum, clearing it of the huge number of container vans that had accumulated as a result of the truck ban.

In February, Estrada enforced City Ordinance No. 8336 which banned eight-wheeler trucks with a gross vehicle weight of at least 4,500 kilograms from plying Manila’s roads from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Negotiations prompted by a truck holiday led to the granting of a window period between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. upon the intervention of business organizations, truck operators and national government officials.

With the lifting of the modified truck ban, truckers should follow for the next eight days the one being implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Under the MMDA policy, truckers cannot ply their routes from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. every day, except on Sundays and holidays.

In a letter to Estrada on Friday, Singson noted that because of the container backlog at the port, “some international vessels have been bypassing the Port of Manila because of the long queuing of six to seven vessels at any given time.”

Compelling reason

At a press conference on Monday at the new command center of the Manila City Hall, Estrada said that he found Singson’s request “compelling enough” to grant a moratorium.

He also noted that the international forum was important for the whole country as it would benefit the economy.

However, Estrada stressed that trucks would still not be allowed to park between A. Bonifacio Street to Del Pan Bridge and any road or street designated as “no parking areas” by the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB).

All container trucks would also be allowed to enter and leave the Port of Manila during both the modified and regular truck operating hours provided that they stick to designated truck routes, he added.

In the route plan submitted by the Department of Public Works and Highways to the city government, trucks coming from the North Luzon Expressway would have to take Balintawak to A. Bonifacio, turn right on C-3 then turn left on Road 10. Vehicles coming from the port and going to NLEX should take Bonifacio Drive, turn right on C-3 then turn right again on A. Bonifacio.

From Cavite and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), truckers are advised to turn right on President Quirino Avenue, turn left on Plaza Dilao/Pres. Quirino Avenue Extension, turn left on United Nations Avenue, right on Romualdez then turn left on Ayala Boulevard. From there, all trucks are advised to turn right on A. Bonifacio Drive.

For trucks coming from the port and going to SLEX and Cavite, they should take A. Bonifacio, turn left on P. Burgos,  then turn right on San Marcelino. From there, they should turn left on United Nations Avenue, right on Plaza Dilao, right on Pres. Quirino Avenue Extension then left on Osmeña Highway.

Another condition of the moratorium, according to Estrada, is that container trucks inside the port would be allowed to exit during the truck ban hours provided that they “be regulated and dispatched by port operators at a rate not to exceed 200 trucks per hour.” These trucks are also advised to use only the designated routes to the north, south and Cavite province.

“The port operators also offered to collect and pay the city a P100 dispatch fee per truck or P180,000 per day, whichever is higher,” Estrada said, adding that the amount would be remitted daily to the city treasurer as donation.

He explained that the money would be used for traffic enforcement activities and the truck routes may be modified by the city government if necessary.

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