Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu to synch truck ban

CEBU, Philippines - To ease traffic congestion during peak hours, a simultaneous truck ban will be implemented in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and the towns of Consolacion, Liloan and Cordova.

The ban, which will soon be implemented through a Memorandum of Agreement, will affect all trucks, loaded or unloaded, plying the route of the said municipalities.

The time agreed is 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. when traffic congestion is observed at its heaviest.

Capitol legal officer Marino Martinquilla said the MOA will soon be signed by the five local government units, the Chambers of Commerce of Cebu and Mandaue Cities, and the truckers association.

Martinquilla said the MOA is also aimed at formalizing the commitments of the stakeholders involved for the truck ban.

The cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu have imposed their own truck bans through their respective city ordinances. However, these bans were implemented on an uncoordinated time, which reportedly confused drivers.

In Lapu-Lapu City, the truck ban takes effect from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. but in Mandaue City the ban is enforced from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. The ban in both cities is enforced everyday except on Sundays and holidays.

Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado was prompted to seek the help of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on the matter since trucks have been illegally parking in Barangay Tayud.

In previous meetings, a number coding was proposed to address the problem on trucks, but the truckers’ association expressed concern that this proposal might give some haulers the option to get more trucks to fulfill their required deliveries for their clients.

The Chambers of Commerce in Cebu and Mandaue Cities are willing to comply with the ban but they requested for a uniform time for all local government units so they can be guided in scheduling their trips.

Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu will amend their ordinances while Liloan, Consolacion and Cordova will pass a resolution for the implementation of the truck ban while they are still drafting their ordinances. — (FREEMAN)