Barangay officials seek truck-ban on Batasan-San Mateo Road

Barangay Batasan Hills officials have asked the Quezon City government to ban all large trucks from the eastbound lane of the Batasan-San Mateo Road given the spate of deadly crashes on the thoroughfare.

"Almost dinedeklara na namin na talagang 'killer highway' [ang Batasan-San Mateo Road] kasi di naman siya talaga diretso. Nakakurbada siya at pababa," Batasan Hills barangay secretary Edwin Misolas told GMA 7 news program "24 Oras" on Monday.

Misolas added that some trucks, more so the overloaded ones carrying materials for infrastructure projects, built a so much momentum going downhill on the road that they overheated their brakes, leaving them useless.

He however conceded that the failed brakes could also be due to poor maintenance.

"Halos lahat silang naaksidente sinasabing nawalan sila ng preno," Misolas added.

Last March 9, a truck carrying metal components down the Batasan-San Mateo Road lost its brakes and slammed into several vehicles near the Northview 1 Subdivision.

The impact sent the other vehicles slamming into people crossing the street, including 23-year-old Jallen Porta, who later died from her injuries.  At least five other people were also injured in the crash.

Truck driver Roberto Acosta explained that his vehicle lost its brakes after negotiating the steepest portion of the road.

In an effort to avoid plowing into the other vehicles and crossing pedestrians, he decided to veer left over the concrete island separating the east and west-bound lanes of the road.

"Imbes na ikanan ko ang sasakyan, pinilit kong ikaliwa kasi marami pong taong mamatay," Acosta had told GMA News.

His assistant, Reggie Concepcion, confirmed that he saw Acosta step on the brakes to no effect.

Data from the Metro Manila Development Authority gleaned by GMA News Research revealed that in 2017 alone, around 99 crashes occurred along the Quezon City portion of the Batasan-San Mateo Road.

Some 73 of the crashes resulted in damage to property and vehicles, while 23 of these crashes resulted in injuries to at least 36 people.

Misolas was skeptical that a pedestrian overpasses would be a solution.

However, since the Batasan-San Mateo Road was classified as a national road, Misolas confessed that it was possible the road was not within the local government's power to regulate.

"Either they pass a law banning the trucks or the [Department of Public Works and Highways] redirect traffic or make a new road," the barangay official suggested.

In a text message to GMA News, QC Mayor Herbert Bautista promised to look into the matter with the MMDA, but says inquires would be better coursed through the DPWH which had jurisdiction over national roads. — DVM, GMA News