Truckers poised for more protests against Manila's truck ban

Despite recent changes to Manila's day-time truck ban, the Integrated North Harbour Truckers Association said it is dissatisfied and is poised for renewed protests next week.

 

INHTA president Teodorico Gervacio said the trucking industry has been losing P3 million a day even after adjustments to the truck ban, according to a report on GMA's “24 Oras” aired Saturday evening.

 

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

 

The truck ban has drastically cut the number of deliveries truckers can make, the report said.

Truckers held a "holiday" last week to protest the ban.

“‘Yung pagkakaroon ng window hours, hindi acceptable sa amin ‘yan. Ang gusto naming mangyari ay ma-suspend ang implementation nitong truck ban,” Gervacio said then.
 

In an earlier report, Alberto Suansing of the Confederation of Truckers Associations of the Philippines requested a more lenient policy on unloaded trucks but Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada would not budge on the ban.

 

“'Yung walang laman [na truck], aba gumising sila ng maaga. 'Di ba? Ganyan lang yan, eh. You have to sacrifice,” Estrada said. 

 

The truckers' groups will meet on Monday on whether to push through with another protest, the report said.

 

The local government of Manila has repeatedly stated it will remain firm on the implementation of the city's truck ban.

Last Friday,tension between truckers and the city government heightened as Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno led police in apprehending trucks found on the road despite the ban. — Andrei Medina/JDS, GMA News