Traders willing to try new truck ban for one week

MANILA, Philippines - A group of businessmen yesterday declared willingness to try the reimposed truck ban for one week to see if it would solve or create more problems for Metro Manila.

According to Aduana Business Club president Mary Zapata, they decided to cooperate with the implementation of the Metro Manila Council (MMC)’s Resolution No. 3 of “Reimplementing the Uniform Truck Regulation in Metro Manila Except Northern Truck Route” to allow the government to solve the traffic problems in the metropolis.

“We will see. We will give the government a chance. We will support their move for a week and probably, after a week, if nothing happens and we see that it only creates more problems, I think other efforts should be created… let us just wait. We will see what the outcome may be,” Zapata said.

She said they also took into consideration the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit and to give way to the infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways when it decided to support the truck ban for a week.

The one-week trial period would be from Tuesday to Tuesday, starting yesterday and would end on Sept. 22.

Zapata though admitted that even if the truck ban only started yesterday, they are not pinning their hopes on the new traffic policy. In fact, they are already worried of the effects it would bring to their operations.  

“Imagine before we used to enjoy 24/7 operations on the road, now there would be less 9 hours and we would only have 15 hours left to deliver the cargoes. It would be a big deal for us,” she said.

Under the new regulations, the ban on trucks and heavy vehicles in all roads in Metro Manila would be implemented from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., except Sundays and holidays.

While they believe this would hamper their business operations, Zapata is hoping the new traffic policy would “adversely affect the flow of trade, then the government itself would voluntarily reconsider its actions.”

When the truck ban was first implemented by the city government of Manila, it led to higher prices of imported goods and raw materials that were later passed on to the consumers.

“The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras have been there when trucks were prevented from traveling. I think everybody learned a lesson from that,” Zapata said.

On the issue of whether the reimposed truck ban would lead to port congestion, Zapata said congestion at ports was never really solved.

It was only lessened, according to Zapata, “because they still encounter problems with the international shipping lines such as the return of the empty containers and the excess charges they imposed.”

The reimplementation of the truck ban started yesterday as part of government efforts to ease the chaotic traffic situation in Metro Manila, particularly along EDSA.

Under the traffic scheme, trucks using the northern route would be exempt from the ban.

Trucks loaded with perishable and agricultural cargo are, however, exempted from the truck ban hours.

The MMC said a total ban on trucks and heavy vehicles, regardless of weight, would be strictly implemented along EDSA and the central business districts of Ortigas, Makati and Bonifacio Global City from Monday to Sunday.

Trucks bound for the Southern Luzon Expressway and the Northern Luzon Expressway are allowed to use EDSA .

The MMC also said trucks will not be allowed to park at any time of the day on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

On the other hand, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be meeting the mayors of Metro Manila to coordinate efforts to clear alternate routes of illegally parked vehicles.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said he would be calling for a meeting of the MMC, the council composed of the all the mayors of Metro Manila, to come up with a plan to decongest alternative roads.

Tolentino admits the MMDA cannot accomplish the street clearing operation on its own.

“The solution is not only one agency but has to be multi-lateral approach. We will have a second look at it with the help of the Metro Manila mayors and the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government),” he said.

The MMDA earlier urged motorists to make use of 17 identified alternate or “Mabuhay” routes that could be used to avoid EDSA in traveling around Metro Manila. However, motorists have noted that travel time through the 17 alternate routes is slow as there are many illegally-parked vehicles.

The 17 alternative routes

The “Mabuhay” routes are as follows:

From North to South

Route 1: From EDSA

Turn right at West Avenue, right at Quezon Avenue, U-turn near Magbanua, right at Timog, right at Tomas Morato, right at E. Rodriguez, left at Gilmore, straight to Granada, right to Pinaglabanan, right at P. Guevarra, left at L. Mencias, right at Shaw Boulevard, left at Acacia Lane, right at F. Ortigas, left at P. Cruz, left at F.

Blumentritt, left at Coronado, take Mandaluyong-Makati Bridge to destination.

Route 2: From EDSA

Turn right at West Avenue, right at Del Monte Avenue, left at Sto. Domingo or Biak na Bato, right at Amoranto, left at Banawe or D. Tuazon, right at Maria Clara or Dapitan to destination.

Route 3: From North Luzon Expressway

Exit at Mindanao Avenue access ramp, right at Mindanao Avenue, left at Congressional Avenue, right at Luzon Avenue, take bridge crossing Commonwealth Avenue, Katipunan Avenue, C-5 to destination.

Route 4: From Quezon City to Makati

Take N. Domingo, left at Blumentritt-Kalentong, left at Manalo St., right at Mariano, right at Luna Mencias, right at Shaw Boulevard, left at Acacia Lane, right at F. Ortigas, left at P. Cruz, left at F. Blumentritt, Coronado, take Mandaluyong-Makati Bridge or take Barangka Drive Pantaleon-Estrella Bridge to destination.

Route 5: From Quezon City to Makati

From E. Rodriguez, left at Matimyas-Plaza Noli to Fajardo, left at V.G. Cruz, right at Lardizabal, left at M. De la Fuente, right at Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Nagtahan to President Quirino, left at South Superhighway to destination.

Route 6: From North Luzon Expressway

Right at Balintawak Cloverleaf to Edsa going to Monumento, left at A. De Jesus Street (8th St.), left at C-3, right at A. Bonifacio, take Mayon Avenue, Welcome Rotonda to destination.

From South to North

Route 7: From EDSA

Take Estrella, E. Pantallon Bridge, Barangka Drive, left at Nueve de Febrero, right at M. Martinez Avenue, straight to Gomezville, straight to Hoover, Wilson, left at Ortigas Avenue, Granada, right at N. Domingo, left at Hemady, right at Scout Tobias, left at Timog Avenue, right at Quezon Avenue, Quezon Memorial Circle, right at Visayas Avenue, left at Congressional Avenue, right at Mindanao Avenue to destination.

For Greenhills, San Juan City:

Route 8: From EDSA

Turn right at Banahaw Street, right at Makiling, left at Benitez, straight at St. Joseph, left at Ortigas Avenue to Greenhills Shopping Center.

Route 9: From EDSA

Turn right at Annapolis, right at Eisenhower, left at Club Filipino, Ortigas Avenue to Greenhills Shopping Center.

Route 10: From EDSA

Turn right at Connecticut, Ortigas Avenue to Greenhills Shopping Center.

For Baclaran, Parañaque City

Route 11: From EDSA

Take Edsa-Tramo flyover, right at Andrews Avenue, straight to Airport Road, right at Roxas Boulevard, take Service Road, Redemptorist to destination.

Route 12: From Manila

Along Roxas Boulevard, take a U-turn at Airport Road, take Service Road Redemptorist to destination.

For Carriedo, Manila:

Route 13: From Manila Area

From Taft Avenue, take Ayala Boulevard, left at Carlos Palanca (Echague), Carriedo Street to destination.

Route 14: From Manila area

From Padre Burgos, take Jones Bridge, right at Muelle del Blanco National, Plaza Lacson, Carriedo to destination.

For Divisoria, Manila

Route 15: From Dapitan Zuki Market

Take AH Lacson Avenue, left at Tayuman Street, left at Dagupan Street to Divisoria.

Route 16: From Roxas Boulevard

Right at Claro M. Recto, straight to Divisoria.

Route 17: From Road 10

Left at Moriones Street, right at Dagupan Street to Divisoria.

Metro Manila too congested

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said the lack of planning and political will led to the chaotic traffic situation in Metro Manila.

According to Cayetano, the problem has reached its tipping point.

He said Metro Manila is not the Philippines, as there are other areas where government centers could function that need additional funds for development.

Cayetano said the main problem is Metro Manila is too congested.

He said all other regions get two to four percent of the national budget while Metro Manila gets more than 30 percent. – Mike Frialde, Eva Visperas