Manila truck ban to push through on Feb. 24

Manila eyeing restrictions on public jeepneys, UV Express MANILA -- There is no stopping the daytime truck ban in Manila, which is scheduled to take effect on February 24, according to Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno. The truck ban is the city's latest ordinance designed to help ease traffic problems. Under the ordinance, 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. "Base sa polisiya ni Mayor Erap [Estrada], tuloy na sa 24 yung truck ban. Yan ay talagang gagawin ng lungsod at kinakailangan... I think it's high time, in fact tayo na lang yata sa siyudad o kapitolyo ng bansa na may mga truck operation during daytime," Moreno said in an interview with "Mornings @ ANC" on Tuesday. Gravel and sand trucks, cargo trucks, cement mixers, sand tractor trailers and containerized trucks are included in the travel ban, while refrigerated haulers carrying perishable goods, oil tankers, and trucks used for government projects are exempted from the ban. On July last year, Manila also passed an ordinance banning city and provincial buses without existing terminals in the city. In the resolution, provincial buses with private terminals within the city are still allowed to enter but they cannot unload passengers along the road. Buses coming from places such as Quezon City, San Juan and Makati are barred from entering Manila. According to Moreno, the scheme has significantly brought down the number of buses traversing Manila. He said they are now also looking at making similar restrictions on other transportation modes such as jeepneys and UV Express units. "We're going to attend to 14,000 jeeps and 4,500 UV Express... Sa jeepney drivers ito muna ang pakiusap namin: Pag may pumara, itabi po ninyo. Huhulihin na po namin kayo. At yung UV Express, bilang na po ang araw po ninyo. Sana po sumunod na kayo sa prangkisa ninyo," he said. 4-day school/work week Meanwhile, the vice mayor said the city government of Manila is open to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) proposal of a 4-day school week. Moreno said he "agrees 100 percent" with MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, noting that Manila is home to 104 elementary and high schools. "Bakit naman ako hindi mag-a-agree sa pino-propose ni Chairman Tolentino sa DepEd (Department of Education)?" he said. He said they are also open to the proposal of a 4-day work week in a bid to ease traffic congestion in the city streets. Manila has around 11,000 city hall employees, he said. "I would suggest government should start it... Imagine yung i-gegenerate mong ease sa foot traffic and vehicular traffic," Moreno said.