Manila day-time truck ban moved to Feb. 24

MANILA -- The city government of Manila will implement a daytime truck ban starting February 24 to ease traffic congestion. The ordinance prohibiting daytime truck travel on the streets of Manila was signed by Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada on Wednesday. It was earlier announced that the truck ban will be effective on February 10. However, Estrada on Thursday moved its implementation to February 24 to give truckers at least two weeks to adjust to the new scheme. Under resolution no. 7570, eight-wheel trucks with a gross weight of above 4,500 kilograms will only be allowed on city streets from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day except on Saturdays and Sundays. Gravel and sand trucks, cargo trucks, cement mixers, sand tractor trailers and containerized trucks are included in the travel ban. Meanwhile, refrigerated haulers carrying perishable goods, oil tankers, and trucks used for government projects are exempted from the ban. But these will have to get permits from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) before they will be allowed to pass through the city streets. Manila has designated alternate routes -- Roxas Boulevard and R-10 -- for trucks coming from and going to the pier. Trucks caught violating the ordinance will be meted a P5,000 fine. The trucks may also be impounded. Meanwhile, trucker groups will try to appeal the city's new scheme. Rodolfo de Ocampo, chairman of the Confederation of Truckers of the Philippines, said the group will write a letter to the Departments of Trade, Transportation and Communications, and even Finance to tell them about the ban's supposed negative impact on the economy. "Malaki ang epekto niyan sa ating ekonomiya at ating mga truckers. Biruin mo andun yung dalawang pier -- north at south harbor. Malaki epekto niyan sa ekonomiya dahil paano kami makakapaghakot ng kargamento at dadalhin sa iba't-ibang lugar kung maghapon ang truck ban," de Ocampo said. -- Report from Noel Alamar, dzMM