MANILA, May 12 (PNA) — The Metro Manila Council’s special traffic committee on Monday ordered the lifting of the truck ban in major thoroughfares in the metropolis from May 13 to 20, 2014.
The MMC, composed of the 17 mayors of the National Capital Region (NCR), is the policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). It formulated the new truck ban regulations to respond to the pressing needs to alleviate traffic congestion in the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila.
It a three-page resolution, the 8-day moratorium on the ban is in preparation for the 23rd World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia from May 21 to 23 which the Philippines is hosting. The WEF is an important platform to showcase Metropolitan Manila and Philippines as viable economic, financial and investment hub for foreign investors.
It added that there is necessity to assure efficient mobility of the delegates within the thoroughfares of the metropolis, thus there is need to ensure the smooth flow of traffic for the duration of the WEF.
The MMC also stated that there is necessity to decongest the ports of Manila which are now in their capacity level due to the adjustments of the truckers to the Manila truck ban ordinance implemented on February 24, 2014.
The new regulation now suspends the truck ban hours in Metro Manila from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The following are designated truck routes:
Southern Truck route
From Port Area to SLEX:
Bonifacio Drive, left P. Burgos, Finance Road, Ayala Boulevard, right San Marcelino, left UN Avenue, right Plaza Dilao, right Pres. Quirino Extension, left Osmeña Highway.
From SLEX to Port Area:
SLEX right to Pres. Quirino left to Plaza Dilao, left to United Nations, right Romualdez Street, left Ayala Boulevard, P. Burgos, right to Bonifacio Drive to destination.
Northern Truck Route
From Port Area to NLEX:
From Bonifacio Drive turn right to C3 turn left to A. Bonifacio to NLEX/destination.
From NLEX to Port Area:
Balintawak to A. Bonifacio, turn right to C-3, left to R-10 to destination.
Roxas Boulevard truck route:
From Port Area to Cavitex:
From Pier take R-10 straight ahead Roxas Boulevard to Cavitex
From CAVITEX to Port Area:
From Cavitex take Roxas Boulevard turn right to EDSA, U-turn under Magallanes Interchange, take SLEX right to Pres. Quirino, left to Plaza Dilao, left to United Nations, right Romualdez Street, left Ayala Blvd.-P.Burgos, right Bonifacio Drive to destination.
The MMC said the one-week 24-hour truck routes shall not be applicable to EDSA where total truck ban shall still be strictly observed along with C-5, Katipunan, Commonwealth and all other routes not mentioned above.
The Cavitex routes shall also be for the exclusive use of Cavite bound trucks.
At no time during the whole day will container trucks be allowed to park on A. Bonifacio up to Delpan Bridge and other key roads by the City of Manila.
During the truck ban hours, trucks will be regulated and dispatched by International Container Terminal Services Inc., (ICTSI) and Asian Terminal Inc., (ATI) at a rate not to exceed 200 container trucks per hour.
The MMC said that truck ban shall be lifted noontime on May 20, reinstating the MMDA truck ban hours in Metro Manila from 5:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day except Sundays and holidays.
The MMDA Chairman is authorized to issue circulars to implement this resolution and to coordinate with concerned LGUs of Metro Manila and other government agencies including the Bureau of Customs and Philippine Ports Authority.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said there is around 36,000-39,000 back log of container vans in the ports of Manila which causes long queuing of vessels.
Tolentino said it will affect the traffic going to south due to construction of SkyWay3. There is nothing to worry in the north because it is still vacation. (Philippine News Agency)
