At least 20 truck drivers apprehended in one hour for truck ban violation

In just one hour, at least 20 truck drivers were apprehended one after the other by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on EDSA-Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City on Tuesday for violating the truck ban.

The drivers were given tickets and were advised to pay the fine of P2,000.

The truckers said they were aware of the truck ban in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. but admitted they thought they would not get caught.

MMDA traffic chief Bong Nebrija himself led the operation to apprehend the truck drivers violating the truck ban.

Nebrija said there are exemptions to the truck ban, such as those delivering perishable goods and with permits from the Department of Agriculture, fuel tankers with permits from MMDA, and trucks used for government projects.

He said traffic on EDSA flowed more easily on Monday, the first day of the truck ban.

Nebrija however reacted to truckers saying they are not causing traffic. 

The MMDA chief said the trucks would cause traffic if they get stalled in the middle of EDSA. 

The truck ban, which was reimplemented starting Dec. 14, was meant to help ease the traffic this holiday season. 

The ban is in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. every day except Sundays and holidays on EDSA and C5 Road.

The MMDA gave trucks window hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. wherein they can use certain portions of EDSA.

These areas on EDSA are Magallanes Interchange to Roxas Boulevard, and North EDSA to Balintawak.

However, trucks will not be able to use the portion of EDSA from Magallanes Interchange in Makati City to North Avenue in Quezon City at any time. —Jonathan Andal/KG, GMA News