DBP, LandBank, BOC to extend working hours as Manila truck ban enters 2nd week

The Bureau of Customs and state-owned banks have decided to extend operating hours as part of efforts ease the burden of truckers from the demands of a daytime truck ban – now entering its second week – in the City of Manila. 

 

"Will be extending our working hours. We will open until 9 p.m.," Land Bank of the Philippines president Gilda Pico told reporters in a press conference held business stakeholders Tuesday. 

 

The Philippine Ports Authority said the extended operating hours will be put to test for two weeks starting Saturday, to see if it will help solve the congestion of goods at the port due to the ban. 

 

"Essentially 'yun ang agreement [with the government banks:]14 days... two weeks. Pero it's experimental... we will try it out," PPA General Manager Juan Sta. Ana said. 

 

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has also committed to extend banking hours to accommodate truckers affected by the daytime truck ban. 

 

In addition, the Bureau of Customs, LandBank and the DBP will also operate on weekends, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

 

Sta. Ana also asked warehouse operators to extend their working  hours so trucks can pick up goods. 

 

Despite the experiment, business stakeholders maintained that it is a 'band aid' solution to a problem that needs to be addressed better, to the benefit of all concerned. 

 

"We need to balance the desire to limit the negative impact of traffic and the growth of our economy," Christian Gonzales of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. said, suggesting that the flow of goods be spread over 24 hours. 

 

"Really, the long term solution is better roads. And we have that, in two to four years they will be completed. But for now we need to find other solutions other than the truck ban, which is not good for trade," he said. 

 

24/7 truck lanes?

 

Albert Suansing of the Confederation of Truck Association of the Philippines (CTAP) said the solution to the standstill between the Manila government and the truckers is to allow trucks to use dedicated lanes all day that will allow the faster movement of goods into and out of the ports.

 

"Dapat patuloy silang palabasin para maluwang tayo. The solution [of better roads] is still 3 years down the road. We just have to live with what's possible," he added. 

 

Suansing identified at least 10 roads that the CTAP wants to be opened to truckers all day. 

 

"Hinihingi lang namin ay A. Bonifacio, Road 10, C3, 5th Avenue, Sgt. Rivera, P. Burgos, Finance Road, Quirino, Osmeña, at Roxas Boulevard for Cavite bound traffic," he said. 

 

Manila enforced a new truck ban last week, reaping intense opposition from traders and the trucking operators association. Truckers staged a "truck holiday," essentially a strike that kept cargo in Manila's ports and crippled cargo transport to and from Manila.

 

The strike was lifted after Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada offered a compromise this week that would permit use of the city's roads by trucks over longer daytime hours.

 

Recent changes to the day-time truck ban gave trucks with cargo a window from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m to ply the streets of Manila while unloaded trucks are still banned from the roads from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. – VS, GMA News