MMDA: Day 1 of single truck lane on C5 off to a smooth start

MANILA, Philippines - The first day of the implementation of the “one truck lane” policy on the C5 Road kicked-off to a smooth start on Monday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

Crisanto Saruca, head of the MMDA’s Traffic Discipline Office said he himself felt the convenience brought by the single truck lane as it only took him just 25 minutes to drive from Green Meadows in Pasig City to Orense in Makati City.

“There are some motorists who say that it (policy) helped speed-up traffic flow, while some said there was no change. As for me, this is better,” said Saruca.

The policy that will be in effect until January 31 next year affects the portion of the C5 Road from Bagong Ilog in Pasig City to Eastwood in Libis, Quezon City.

Saruca said the single truck lane would be extended to the C.P. Garcia area in Katipunan on September 13. Trucks turning left to C.P. Garcia Avenue on their way to Commonwealth Avenue will be affected.

“We are now coordinating with the officials of the schools that would be affected,” said Saruca.

The MMDA had earlier closed seven U-turn slots along the C5 Road for the implementation of the “one truck lane.”

In place of the closed U-turn slots, the MMDA has opened intersections with traffic signal lights at the C5’s intersections at Lanuza, Greenmeadows, Calle Industria and at Eastwood.

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

The truck lane, located at the innermost lane of the C5 Road will be open for trucks from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then again from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The MMDA has 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 everyday except Sundays and holidays.

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino said the imposition of the “one truck lane policy” along the C5 Road is aimed to address traffic congestion in the whole stretch of C5 caused by a huge increase in the volume of trucks passing through it.

"Studies showed that there is an 80 percent increase in the total volume of trucks plying along C5 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 the policy, trucks will only use the innermost lane of the C5 Road and will strictly observe the one-lane policy.

Under the policy, U-turn slots along the C5 Road will also be closed except those under flyovers. In place of the closed U-turn slots, intersections with traffic signals will be opened, the MMDA said.

Trucks under the policy will also not be allowed to park on any street along the C5 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.

However, at present, Saruca said, MMDA traffic enforcers simply warn truck drivers to stick to the lane.

“At present, we are just doing drivers education as some truck drivers are still unaware of the one truck lane policy. We just let them off with a warning for now. However, enforcers will apprehend trucks that violate the truck ban hours,” Saruca said.

Meanwhile, Saruca expressed confidence that the new policy will help lessen the incidence of vehicular accidents involving trucks on the C5 Road.

“Hopefully there would be less accidents as trucks would just be using one lane on the C5 and will not have to compete for space with the other vehicles,” he said.