MMDA eyes total daytime truck ban

MANILA, Philippines - With traffic worsening in Metro Manila, Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday that authorities are considering a total daytime truck ban.

Tolentino said the Metro Manila Council, headed by Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, will soon come out with a recommendation on whether to expand the so-called truck lanes on major roads during certain hours from Port Area in Manila to the south and north expressways.

“We are just awaiting the recommendation of the Metro Manila council regarding the truck lane,” Tolentino said.

Among the possible recommendation is the adoption of the “Manhattan truck route” or the daytime travel ban for all trucks coming from Port Area.

Tolentino said the daytime truck ban was effective during the traffic plan for the recent Board of Governors meeting of the Asian Development Bank in the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City.

He said the presence of trucks along Bonifacio Drive in Port Area, Ayala Ave. in Makati, and Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City contributed to traffic congestion during rush hour.

Ongoing road construction has also added to the traffic woes particularly during rainy days.

Tolentino also announced that he would set up on Tuesday a satellite office in front of the University of Santo Tomas at the perennially flooded España Avenue in Sampaloc, Manila and personally oversee the clearing of clogged drainage system and the rescue operations of pedestrians stranded by flood.