MMDA prepares C-5 Road’s truck lane

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday closed seven U-turn slots along C-5 Road for the implementation tomorrow of the agency’s “truck lane” along the highway.

In place of the closed U-turn slots, the MMDA has opened intersections with traffic signal lights at C-5’s intersections at Lanuza, Greenmeadows, Calle Industria and at Eastwood.

U-turn slots at Libis, at the Bagong Ilog flyover and at Ortigas were left open.

At 5 a.m. yesterday, the MMDA initiated a dry run of its “one truck lane policy” along C-5 Road.

Starting tomorrow (Monday) the truck lane, located at the innermost lane of C-5 Road, will be open to trucks from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then again from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The MMDA allowed private vehicles to use the truck lane during the truck ban hours between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The truck ban hours are imposed every day except Sundays and holidays.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the imposition of the “one truck lane policy” along C-5 Road is aimed to address traffic congestion along the whole stretch of C-5 caused by a huge increase in the volume of trucks passing through this thoroughfare.

“Studies showed that there is an 80 percent increase in the total volume of trucks plying along C-5 during the granting of provisional authorities to trucks for hire applicants and the no apprehension policy by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board,” Tolentino said.

Under this policy, which will be in effect until Jan. 31 next year, trucks will only use the innermost lane of C-5 Road and strictly observe the one-lane policy.

Trucks under the policy will also not be allowed to park on any street along the C-5 Road. 

The MMDA said trucks that will fail to follow the “one truck lane policy” will be impounded, with the owners to pay a P2,000 fine. In addition, the MMDA will also recommend the blacklisting of the offending trucking company.