MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada on Saturday lifted the truck ban effective noon in Manila.
In a televised press conference, Estrada said the lifting of the ban, contained in Executive Order No. 67, would be in effect “indefinitely”.
He said this was to give way to the national government’s efforts to address the port congestion in Manila which was blamed for the heavy traffic in the metropolis.
Estrada said he was just heeding the request of the national government to lift the truck ban
“We are giving them a chance para ‘di kami sisihin… baka magkaroon pa ng conflict ‘yung task force na ginawa nila at ang aming task force traffic,” he said.
President Aquino had earlier ordered the formation of Task Force Pantalan to deal with the problem.
“The traffic management council of Manila has recommended that the truck ban of the city of Manila be lifted in order to give the national government a free hand in addressing the problem of port congestion,” Estrada said.
Aall government departments and offices in the city of Manila – including the Manila Traffic Bureau and Manila Police District – were ordered to “extend full support in assistance to concerned national government offices and agencies” pursuant to Estrada’s E.O. 67
Truck lanes were also removed and trucks will now be allowed to enter the city anytime of the day.
Estrada said the Manila City government was doing this voluntarily and there was no pressure coming from the national government to lift the truck ban.
In August, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) blamed Manila’s truck ban for the congestion problem at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and the Manila Port.
The truck ban ordinance was implemented in February 2014 to ease the usual heavy traffic in Manila. Cargo trucks were banned in Manila’s main roads from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Amid protests and complaints from affected truckers, Estrada insisted then that the truck ban had finally eased traffic conditions in the city.