Manila postpones implementation of truck ban

The city government of Manila has pushed back implementation of a truck ban to Feb. 24 over strong opposition from truckers' groups.

 

According to a report on GMA's “24 Oras” program aired Friday evening, the postponement is meant to give the truckers time to adjust to the ban. 

 

“To give more time for them (truckers) to give some suggestions. And we give it to them that we postponed it for about two weeks,” Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada explained.

 

Under the new city policy, trucks are banned from the streets of Manila from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. 

 

Cargo trucks, gravel-and-sand trucks, cement mixers, 8-wheelers and any truck with a gross vehicle weight of at least 4,500 kilograms are covered by the ban. Trucks will only be allowed on roads that have only two lanes.

 

Violators will be fined P5,000 and risk having their trucks impounded.
 

But various truckers' groups including the Aduana Business Club Inc. (ABCI) and the Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations warned that the truck ban will have adverse effects on the industry and on the Philippine economy.

 

“Malaking kabawasan [ito]. Kasi sa ngayon 'yung normal namin six to eight containers a week. Kapag inimplement na yung truck ban, mga tatlo ma-suwerte na iyon,” ABCI vice president for trruckers Abe Rebao said. 

 

According to the report, over 90 percent of truck operators who attended the public hearing of the truck ban opposed the ordinance.

 

Manila City Hall said they are open to suggestions to help improve the city. — Andrei Medina/JDS, GMA News