Truckers want to meet with Almendras

MANILA, Philippines - The Confederation of Truckers Associations of the Philippines (CTAP) yesterday called for an emergency meeting on the reimplementation of the truck ban in Metro Manila, and wants to have a dialogue with Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras about the effect of the truck ban on their operations.

CTAP vice president for external affairs Pepito Dino said the group scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss the truck ban and the group’s position on it.

CTAP director Alberto Suansing said the truckers association hopes to meet with Almedras this week.

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) Special Traffic Committee earlier issued Resolution No. 3, which reimplements the uniform truck regulation in Metro Manila, except the northern truck route.

“We have to find out first what is written (in the resolution). So far, what they said was that trucks are allowed in the north bound and that is ok. What about the south bound, coming from the port area and going to the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX) – is that covered by the truck ban or not?” Suansing asked.

Suansing noted that trucks were already prohibited from plying EDSA because of the daytime ban from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., so that part of the regulation is not new to the CTAP.

What the CTAP wants to clarify with the government is if the truck ban along EDSA has become 24 hours under the new policy, he added.

Dino said the CTAP also wants to coordinate with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Asked if the reimplementation of the truck ban will again result in port congestion, Suansing said he doubts it will happen because “there is lower volume now in the ports.”

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday welcomed the national government’s plan to reimplement the truck ban, saying it would help ease the traffic jams suffered daily by motorists and commuters.

Moreno said that while the truck ban is not the ultimate solution to the worsening traffic congestion, it would lessen the number of vehicles plying major routes and minimize the accidents caused by trucks.

“The people are badmouthing us almost daily because of the monstrous traffic,” he added.

Moreno noted that traffic congestion from Del Pan Bridge to Road 10 has been a nightmare to motorists and commuters. But the city government of Manila and the Manila Traffic Police Bureau do not have jurisdiction in the area since the Task Force Pantalan took over management of traffic in Metro Manila a few months ago.

In the past, the Manila city government was severely criticized for implementing a truck ban as it caused port congestion. But Moreno maintained that it was the lack of planning and infrastructure that caused port congestion.

He also said that the designation of the Highway Patrol Group to manage traffic along EDSA may have helped a bit, but it is not the long-term solution to the emerging traffic crisis.

“At the rate the number of vehicles are increasing, we badly need to duplicate our roads, skyways and improve our public transport system. Otherwise the worsening traffic problem will continue,” he stressed.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino attend the Senate hearing on the traffic situation yesterday. GEREMY PINTOLO

LTFRB 24/7 Hotline 1342

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday launched its new emergency hotline against erring public utility vehicles.

“We are encouraging the public to be ‘citizen patrol’ in reporting erring drivers violating traffic rules and regulations by dialing 1342,” LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said during the launch.

Hotline 1342 will replace the old numbers displayed on all public utility vehicles along with the old tagline “May Reklamo Ka? Itawag sa LTFRB.”  – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Robertzon Ramirez