Truck ban re-implemented in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - As part of its measures to ease traffic flow, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) has ordered the re-implementation of the truck ban hours from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. in all roads in Metro Manila except Sundays and holidays.

The resolution re-implementing the truck ban hours in Metro roads was signed by the MMC’s Special Traffic Committee (MMC-STC) last September 4. The MMC is the policy-making arm of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

According to the MMC, the return of the truck ban hours will be effective starting on Tuesday, September 15.

It would be recalled that the MMC-STC had earlier passed a resolution lifting the truck ban hours on specified truck routes in Metro Manila and allowed trucks to use the truck routes on a 24-hour basis from Jun. 10 to Dec. 10, 2014 to help decongest the ports of Manila.

The MMC-STC said the truck ban hours are being returned since there is no more port congestion and the operations of the ports in Manila are now back in normal operation. The return of the truck ban hours is also being made for the convenience of delegates to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum who will arrive and stay in Metro Manila.

The MMC-STC added that the return of the truck ban hours in the roads of Metro Manila will also help alleviate traffic flow especially during peak hours as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are also conducting simultaneous road projects.

“WHEREAS, the simultaneous DPWH infrastructure projects in Metro Manila, including the roads that traverse the truck routes greatly affect the traffic in the metropolis most especially during peak hours, thus, there is an immediate need to suspend the 24-hours 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 MMC-STC resolution read.

The MMC-STC however clarified that the northern truck route will not be covered by the truck ban hours and trucks will be allowed to use the route on a 24-hour basis subject to prohibited dates in APEC related events to be determined in later resolutions.

The MMC also said that the total ban on trucks and heavy vehicles, regardless of weight, shall still be applicable and shall be strictly observed on Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and the Central Business Districts (CBDs) of Ortigas, Makati and Bonifacio Global City from Monday to Sunday. The MMC also said trucks will not be allowed to park “at no time during the whole day” on any major thoroughfare in Metro Manila.

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

Truck drivers who will be apprehended for 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.

Meanwhile, the MMDA on Wednesday also revoked the permission it had earlier given to provincial buses which allowed them to use EDSA’s underpasses. The MMDA said provincial buses are now only permitted on the yellow bus lane on EDSA.

The MMDA last May 20 issued Memorandum Circular #02 Series of 2015 entitled “Further Extending the Implementation of MMDA TTM MC #03 S. 2015 Entitled “Guidelines On The Use Of EDSA Underpasses By Provincial Buses.” The memorandum allowed provincial buses to use EDSA’s underpasses from Jun. 7, 2015 to Jan. 31, 2016.

“To harmonize the traffic schemes currently being implemented on EDSA, TTM MC #02 Series of 2015 is hereby cancelled. All Provincial buses shall only use the yellow lane and are no longer allowed to use any of the underpasses of EDSA. This Traffic and Transport Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately,” the MMDA memorandum read.