Manila mayor Joseph Estrada INQUIRER file photo
The City of Manila announced that it will impose a daytime truck ban starting next week. Mayor Joseph Estrada signed an ordinance to implement the ban and amend some provisions of the traffic management code of the city.
Starting Monday, eight-wheeled trucks and vehicles with gross weight above 4500 kilograms will be banned from they city’s streets from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. They can drive on designated routes from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and at all hours on Sundays and holidays.
Referring to the military camouflage he wore when defiant drivers planned to enter the city despite the bus ban, Estrada said, ““We are ready to face any resistance. I might wear my fatigue uniform again.
The measure is part of a program to decongest the streets. The government previously regulated the entry of buses. Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, the city’s “traffic czar” and the city council’s presiding officer, said jeepneys, vans, motorized tricycles and pedicabs will come next.
The ordinance regulating the trucks was passed by the Manila City Council after only a month from first reading to third and final reading. ”
Councilor Domagoso said that trucks can pass Roxas Boulevard following the allocated time, cutting short what used to be southbound trips that lasted from 30 minutes to an hour to just five minutes. He said that with the truck ban, the number will be reduced to 5 percent or only 200 trucks and will have a spillover effect of easing traffic in the suburbs.
“Not because the trucks are regulated it will adversely affect their growth, it’s the other way around. Truckers will have more turnarounds, which is the life of logistics,” Domagoso said.
Trucks carrying perishable goods and petroleum products are exempted from the ban, as well as vehicles in government projects.
Vehicles that need to deliver construction materials outside of the truck routes are required to seek permission from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau with recommendation from the Manila District Traffic and Enforcement Unit
Violators are to be fined P5,000 or the vehicle will be impounded.
The announced additional truck routes are:
Southern route—from Port Area to Roxas Boulevard (two lanes) to destination and vice versa (South Pier); from Port Area traveling along Road 10 to Roxas Boulevard (two lanes) to destination (North Pier)
Northern route—from Port Area to North Diversion Road; from Pier Zone along Road 10 to destination; from North Diversion to Port Area; from A. Bonifacio Street right C-3 left Road 10 to Pier Zone.
From report by Erika Sauler
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
