‘Roxas Boulevard for people, not trucks’

MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino yesterday turned down a request by a group to lift the truck ban on Roxas Boulevard.

Tolentino said the MMDA imposed the truck ban “for the people and in preparation for the papal visit. Who should be the priority? Historically, Roxas Boulevard is not a truck lane… We just gave it back to the people.”

Earlier this year, the government allowed trucks on Roxas Boulevard to alleviate port congestion following a truck ban on the boulevard imposed by the Manila city government.

According to Tolentino, passengers of domestic airlines using Roxas Boulevard in going to the airport during the holiday rush have priority over trucks leaving the Port of Manila.

The Port Congestion Multi-Sectoral Working Group (PC-MWG) earlier said lifting the truck ban on Roxas Boulevard would help decongest the Port of Manila and keep trucks and goods moving during the holiday season when a huge number of shipments arrive at the port.

Tolentino also brushed aside a claim of the PC-MWG that it would take trucks longer to leave Port Area in Manila if they are not allowed to pass through Roxas Boulevard.

He said they are allowed to pass through Manila’s other streets round-the-clock.

Truckers “should also be considerate of the rights of others. We opened Roxas Boulevard to shorten the time it takes to go to the airport because Andrews Avenue is being repaired,” Tolentino said.