Councilor pushes for inclusion of 3 roads in range of truck ban

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Romeo Villarante has moved that some streets in barangays Poblacion and San Roque be included in the scope of the proposed truck ban ordinance.

“We also have to include the V. Garces Street and Rizal St. in Poblacion, and the main road in San Roque. Kay kung i-close nila ang mga highway, posible ari na dinhi mangagi ang mga dagkong truck,” said Villarante, adding that if it would be allowed, the roads he mentioned would be destroyed in no time.

Villarante raised this concern when the proposed Truck Ban Ordinance of Vice Mayor Alan Bucao was discussed again in the council’s session last week.

Bucao, who allowed his proposal to be scrutinized again, said he would raise Villarante’s concern to the City of Talisay-Traffic Operations and Development Authority (CT-TODA), where he is chief.

In an interview, Villarante said that while he approves of the truck ban, the city government should also not convert the streets in Poblacion and San Roque into alternative routes for vehicles that will soon be banned because of the ordinance.

The ordinance states that all cargo trucks, lorries, fuel tankers, liquid carriers, LPG/LNG tankers, cement bulk carriers, long-bed trailers, 10-40 footer container vans and head/tractors, heavy equipment like dump trucks, payloaders, cranes, and other vehicles with more than six wheels or those having a gross capacity weight of over 4,500 kilograms, will be affected by the ban.

The unrevised proposal will ban these types of vehicles from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.; and 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, in the following thoroughfares: Rabaya Street, Polong Deiparine St., Prisco Deiparine St., Sangi Road, Laray, Lagtang – Toledo Wharfroad, Sombria – Pooc, and Linao – Mohon Dumlog Road.

Meanwhile, the council, which is on a recess as the country celebrates the Holy Week, is expected to discuss again this proposal when it convenes next week.