Truckers: Ban to increase basic goods’ prices by 30%

MANILA, Philippines - Consumers might feel a 30-percent increase in the prices of commodities in a month’s time if the city government of Manila continues to enforce the truck ban, a group of truckers said yesterday.

“The owners of the cargo would pass on the cost, and not only the trucking (industry). We are not threatening, we are telling the truth. This has happened already,” Confederation of Truck Association of the Philippines (CTAP) director Alberto Suansing said.

He said that this was the scenario they faced in 1991, when then transportation secretary Oscar Orbos proposed the idea that for 15 days they would limit truck operations to nighttime deliveries. 

Fifteen days after the experiment, they started receiving reports that the prices of some commodities went up by 30 percent. 

Suansing said that aside from a 50-percent increase in freight operational cost, the cargo owner would have to factor in the hiring of additional workers and overtime pay.

Philippine Ports Authority general manager Juan Sta. Ana said this would also have a negative effect on the competitiveness of the country. 

Suansing said they will not take legal action against Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Suansing and Sta. Ana were among those who attended a consultative meeting yesterday on the truck ban that is being implemented by the city government of Manila.

Sta. Ana said they asked the government banks to extend the hours of some branches up to 9 p.m. to accommodate the processing of cargo documents.