Truckers' alliance hails lifting of Manila's daytime truck ban

Some truckers' groups on Saturday lauded the lifting of the truck ban in the City of Manila, a move that city officials hope will help address congestion in Manila's ports.

"This is a very welcome development for the truckers. We have to attribute the credit to all sectors — private, government and even individuals, who exerted and gave their all para mabigyan ng ganitong resulta," said Rina Papa, vice president of the Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations, in an interview on GMA News TV's "Balitanghali".



Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Saturday issued Executive Order 67, which lifts the truck ban in the city. He said the order was issued to give way to the efforts of the national government to address ports congestion, which has been blamed for heavy traffic in Metro Manila.

Estrada also stressed that they have ordered the lifting of the truck ban voluntarily.

"In fairness to the President, hindi niya kami sinisisi kun'di ang mga trucker lang," he added.

He said he has been in contact with Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras to address port congestion, but he was not pressured by them.

However, on Monday, Aquino blamed Manila's ordinance enforcing a daytime truck ban as the primary cause of congestion in the capital's ports.

For her part, Papa said the city government of Manila may have heeded pressure from the public to lift the ban.

"Ang alam namin, ang pressure ay galing na sa mga mamamayan na nakararanas ng matinding epekto na dulot ng truck ban. So more than anything else, I think, ito ang mas dapat nating bigyan tutok at halaga," she said.

She added that the removal of the truck ban may help "save" the country's economy, and improve the daily lives of commuters and motorists in Metro Manila.

"Ang wisdom ng pagtatanggal ng truck ban sa Maynila ay para sa ikasasalba ng pambansang ekonomiya," she said.

"Ang magiging mahalaga dito ay ang pagkakaroon ng bilis at tuloy-tuloy na daloy ng trucks, na iyon ang kailangan para doon sa pambansa at internasyonal na kalakalan," she added.

The National Economic and Development Authority estimates port congestion has cost the country P70 billion in economic losses.

Heavy traffic?

Estrada also warned commuters and motorists to "prepare for any inconveniences that may result in the lifting of the truck ban."

For her part, Papa noted that "traffic can happen anywhere," but the lifting of the ban will help ease the flow of trucks coming in and out of ports.

"'Yung apprehension na lalong magkakagulo sa daan, I highly doubt that kasi ang prinsipyo dito, matitigil ang pagi-embudo ng mga truck na kaya tayo nagkakaroon ng mga traffic jam na non-moving," she explained. "Dahil wala na itong truck ban sa Maynila, matitigil ang pagi-embudo sa Maynila."

"As for the traffic, we will have a moving traffic. Like I said, traffic can happen anywhere, like sa EDSA, napaka-traffic," she added.

Meanwhile, Papa said they have already submitted their recommendations to help solve the port congestion problem.

"Mayroon pa kaming nilalatag at iminumungkahing measures na pwede nating i-take sa pamumuno ng ating national government," she said.

In August, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) identified the daytime truck ban imposed by the city government of Manila as the root cause of the congestion problem at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and the Manila Port.

But, Estrada insisted that the truck ban has done more good than harm, saying it has finally eased traffic conditions in the city. — Amanda Fernandez/JDS, GMA News