Erap to hold dialogue on truck holiday impact

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada will meet with Customs brokers and truckers to discuss their planned six-day holiday starting Monday next week to oppose the phase-out of old trucks by the government.

Estrada expressed concern over the negative impact of the truck holiday on the economy as well as the monstrous traffic in the city and the entire Metro Manila.

“I will hold a dialogue with the truckers and Customs brokers to know their sentiments,” Estrada said.

Teddy Gervacio of the Alliance of Philippine Brokers and Truckers Association said they would hold the protest to oppose the order of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to phase out old trucks.

The truck holiday slated from Nov. 19 to 24 is in protest of Department Order No. 2017-09, which reinforced DO 2002-030 on the mandatory 15-year age limit for buses and trucks-for-hire covered by a certificate of public conveyance.

He said the DOTr’s move would affect small-scale truckers, drivers and helpers who will lose their source of income.

Gervacio said big international shipping companies would benefit from the phase-out of old trucks.

Under the original order of the DOTr, the phase-out covers only buses.  “Now, they are trying their best to include trucks,” Gervacio said.

He said only the agents of Euro4 trucks would benefit from the program.

He said ports are congested because trucks hauling empty containers queue at the ports for three days.

The truckers asked President Duterte to intervene and stop the planned phase-out of old trucks.

The DOTr expects minimal impact on port operations with the impending truck holiday.

The agency said big trucking companies are not involved in the planned protest.

“Trucking groups such as the Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations, Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. and Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines Inc. issued separate statements that they are not supporting the planned protest and their respective operations will continue on those dates,” DOTr Undersecretary for maritime Fernando Juan Perez said.

The DOTr said these groups would continue their scheduled deliveries during the proposed truck holiday.      –  With Richmond Mercurio