MMDA truck ban for ADB meet to impact bread supply–PhilBaking

The temporary truck ban announced by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in line with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) meeting this week will reduce bread supply by half, Philippine Baking Industry Group (PhilBaking) said Monday.    The 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. truck ban in Metro Manila from May 2 to 5 will cause a possible shortage of breads in supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores, said PhilBaking president Simplicio Umali.   MMDA issued a memorandum circular implementing a modified total truck ban in Metro Manila as ADB holds its 45th Board of Governors Annual Meeting.   “We have written the MMDA to exempt bakeries from the truck ban as bread, which is also perishable, needs to be delivered fresh to stores daily just like agricultural and fishery produce which are already exempted from the truck ban,” said Umali.   The truck ban affecting six-wheeler vehicles will temporarily replace the current 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. schedule.    “We appeal to Chairman Francis N. Tolentino of the MMDA to exempt all bakery deliveries to and passing through Metro Manila during the ADB Annual meeting this May and ensure our countrymen including the ADB delegates of a steady supply of fresh bakery products. This way, we can prevent an unnecessary bread shortage,” Umali said.   Bakers said that supermarkets, groceries and most retail stores are closed during the allowed time of delivery, which is 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., thus nobody will be receiving breads being delivered.   He said the big bread feeder trucks transporting bread to North Luzon via Metro Manila streets will not be able to maintain its daily deliveries as their one-way travel time takes four to eight  hours making it impossible for these trucks to return within the allowable seven-hour MMDA window.   "This will reduce bread stock availability by 50 percent already as these trucks can now make only every other day deliveries instead of the usual daily shipments”, Umali said.   He also said neighborhood bakeries are expected to encounter a similar dilemma, as they cannot get their ingredients delivered during this time.   PhilBaking represents 70 percent of the total retail bread market in the country. —VS, GMA News