Truck ban back in Metro Total ban on EDSA

MANILA, Philippines - To ease traffic, a truck ban will be reimposed on all major thoroughfares in Metro Manila and buses will be confined to yellow lanes starting Tuesday.

Malacañang announced these new rules yesterday as it called on local governments to clear inner roads of obstructions for alternate routes to accommodate the higher volume of vehicles from major thoroughfares.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced that under Resolution No. 03 of the Metro Manila Council (MMC)’s Special Traffic Committee titled “Reimplementing the Uniform Truck Regulation in Metro Manila Except Northern Truck Route,” the ban on trucks and heavy vehicles in all roads in Metro Manila would be implemented from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., except Sundays and holidays.

Trucks using the northern route would be exempt.

The MMC said a total ban on trucks and heavy vehicles, regardless of weight, would be strictly implemented along EDSA and the central business districts of Ortigas, Makati and Bonifacio Global City from Monday to Sunday.

However, trucks using the portion of EDSA in going to the Southern Luzon Expressway and the Northern Luzon Expressway are allowed.

The MMC also said trucks will not be allowed to park at any time of the day on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

Trucks loaded with perishable and agricultural cargo are however exempted from the truck ban hours, the MMC said.

Drivers violating the truck ban hours will be made to pay a P2,000 fine. The MMC-STC also said that the license of the erring truck driver would be suspended for a year after he is apprehended three times for violating the truck ban rules.

On the other hand, provincial buses are banned from using the underpasses along EDSA.

To address port congestion and its adverse effects on the economy, the MMC allowed 24-hour specified truck routes in Metro Manila from June 10 to Dec. 10 of last year.

The port congestion was caused by the truck ban imposed by the city government of Manila.

Since there is no more port congestion and delegates from different countries for the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) are expected to arrive and stay in Metro Manila starting this month, new traffic measures must be in place.

The MMC also cited the simultaneous infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Metro Manila, including the truck routes greatly affecting traffic condition in the metropolis most especially during peak hours.

“Thus, there is an immediate need to suspend the 24-hour truck routes to alleviate the adverse effect on traffic of the DPWH infrastructure projects as well as to have a more convenient travel for the delegates of APEC,” the resolution said.

The DPWH had announced the closure of four lanes of the southbound lane of EDSA for the rehabilitation of Dario Bridge near Muñoz Market.

On the other hand, provincial buses will no longer be allowed on EDSA underpasses and will have to stay on yellow lanes.  

Under Memorandum Circular No. 03 of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s Traffic and Transport Management signed on Sep. 9, it cancelled an earlier directive allowing provincial buses to use EDSA underpasses from June 7 of this year to Jan. 31, 2016 in the effort to harmonize traffic schemes on the major highway.

Malacañang also called on local government units to contribute in the effort of easing traffic along EDSA by clearing all obstructions in their jurisdiction.

“We are also appealing to local governments since traffic management also falls within your (jurisdiction) and you also have personnel, we should be more zealous,” Valte said.

“If we are able to fix more secondary roads then motorist can have more to use (as alternate routes),” she added.

The Northern truck routes

The same MMC resolution allows trucks to take the so-called northern routes, from Port Area in Manila bound for the Northern Luzon Expressway.

Option 1: From Pier Zone, traveling northward along R-10, turn right Capulong towards Tayuman, straight ahead towards M.H Lacson, left on Maria Clara, left on Dimasalang, right on Blumentritt, left on A. Bonifacio and on to the north.

The route is subject to ongoing construction of the Blumentritt Interceptor. The DPWH project will render Blumentritt impassable to trucks, subsequent to the passage of the resolution.

Option 2: From the Port of Manila go straight to R-10, turn right at C-3, left on A. Bonifacio Avenue to North Luzon Expressway and to destination.

Option 2: From North Diversion Road to Port Area: Take Balintawak, straight to A. Bonifacio Avenue, turn right at 5th Avenue/C-3 (east side), turn right at 5th Street, left at 7th Avenue, left at Baltazar Street, right at 5th Avenue C-3 (west Side) then left at R-10 to destination.

The route “from the north and traveling southward along A. Bonifacio Avenue right Blumentritt, left Aurora Boulevard, right Dimasalang, right Aragon Street, right Governor Forbes (MH Lacson) towards Tayuman and Capulong, left R-10 to the Pier Zone” is not passable at present due to ongoing construction on Blumentritt.

The MMC notes, however, that the MMDA may ban trucks on these northern routes on certain days, depending on APEC activities. The ban is in effect until further notice. 

One master plan

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento said one master plan should be made to address the problem of traffic in Metro Manila.

Sarmiento said all the problems confronting the country were due to different programs from different localities, thus the national government could not find an easy solution.

Sarmiento said the plans of local government officials should complement the programs in the national government.

In the effort to address the worsening traffic in Metro Manila, particularly along EDSA, President Aquino designated the police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) led by Chief Supt. Arnold Gunnacao to take over traffic management of the 23-kilometer highway.

In just two days, observers noted the heroic effort of the HPG in controlling the worsening traffic on EDSA.

Despite last Tuesday’s heavy rains and floods, the HPG earned the respect of the public in its efforts to control the chaotic situation in the streets.

Several sectors also gave their support to the traffic policemen.

Vice President Jejomar Binay appealed to the public to allow the HPG a little more time to fine-tune the efforts to decongest traffic on EDSA.

“Let’s give them time to show that they’re doing their part. The problem is we have very high expectations for them,” Binay said.

Binay, meanwhile, said he disagreed with the move to tap personnel of the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF) to help manage EDSA traffic.

“It appears that the MMDA has shortcomings with regard to enforcement that’s why they sought the help of the police, but not to the extent of sending SAF personnel,” he said.

Binay said he finds it improper to see heavily armed police troops manning the traffic.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, on the other hand, urged his colleagues in the House of Representatives to allot more funds for the HPG.

“We should provide the HPG more logistical support and greater leeway to resolve the EDSA traffic gridlock, which is estimated to cause daily losses of at least P1 billion in precious man-hours, fuel and economic opportunities,” he said.

Castelo said a large part of the P154.5-billion 2016 budget for the DILG, which includes the Philippine National Police (PNP), should be allocated to the HPG.

Castelo said he would consult with the House appropriations committee chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab on how much is allotted to the HPG and how much in additional funds could be given.

He added that whatever amount is allocated to the PNP patrol unit in the proposed 2016 budget did not take into account its new task.

Castelo proposed that some appropriations in the PNP could be realigned to the HPG.

“Let us look for non-essential expenditures and divert the funds to the police unit now manning EDSA,” he said.

Castelo noted that since President Aquino assigned the HPG to EDSA a week ago, vehicular traffic along the major highway in Metro Manila has significantly improved.

Castelo said he observed that southbound traffic was fast moving on EDSA at about 5 p.m. on Friday, while vehicle flow along the northbound lane was similarly fast before 10 p.m. that day.

“I think the HPG is showing creditable performance. It should keep up the job. It might yet save the sagging image of the PNP,” he said.

He said HPG men should always reject the temptation of corruption from public utility vehicle drivers and operators.

Castelo added that some operators are known to bribe traffic officials to let their units stay longer than 30 seconds on road intersections to pick up passengers.

“The HPG should constantly enforce the 30-second passenger loading limit to speed up traffic flow,” he stressed.

Castelo proposed that if the PNP patrol unit succeeds in untangling the EDSA traffic mess, the President should order it to man traffic along traffic bottlenecks like C5, Katipunan, España, Quezon Avenue, Ortigas, Marcos Highway, Roxas Boulevard, and approaches to the South Luzon Expressway. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jess Diaz, Helen Flores