Truckers protest along Bonifacio Drive at Port Area, Manila on Thursday, Metro Manila truck drivers and operators are protesting the MMDA鈥檚 modified truck ban on major thoroughfares from 6 to 10 a.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. daily except Sundays and holidays. The ban is in effect until January 2014.NI脩O JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines鈥擜round 50 container trucks formed a caravan on Roxas Boulevard on Thursday, resulting in traffic congestion, and honked at the office of the Department of Public Works and Highways to protest and seek suspension of the implementation of the anti-overloading law.
鈥淲e are asking the DPWH to reconsider because the implementation is not credible. They are using a portable weighing scale. Or why not honor the weight according to the ports,鈥� said Mary Zapata, president of the truckers鈥� group, Aduana Business Club Inc.
In a statement, the group described the implementing rules as 鈥渋nconsistent, confusing and out of sync with international economic realities鈥� and the 鈥渋ncreasing apprehensions for overloading trucks have become another source of graft and extortion in our highways.鈥�
Due to the traffic congestion on both lanes of Roxas Boulevard, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada stepped in and invited the truckers to a dialogue.
鈥淭heir concerns involve national agencies. I promised that I will go out of my way to invite the national officials so they could discuss the problem,鈥� Estrada said.
鈥淏ut I gave them a warning. If they have complaints, don鈥檛 disturb the traffic flow. They will have to follow the local traffic laws. If this happens again, I will have them arrested,鈥� he said.
The proposed meeting on the truck loading issue will also involve the Departments of Trade and Industry, Interior and Local Governments, and Transportation and Communications; the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority; the Bureau of Customs; and the Land Transportation Authority.
The anti-overloading law, Republic Act No. 8794, was implemented to protect road pavements from being damaged by overloaded trucks.
Aduana, however, complains that there is no clear basis for a standard tolerable weight to avoid damaging the roads.
The group said that because the load limits have been 鈥渦nclear, inconsistent and unrealistic vis a vis international standards and requirements鈥� the administrations of former President Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have imposed a moratorium on its enforcement.
鈥淏ut until now, no such rationalization or action had been taken. What happened instead, is that the DPWH, ostensibly concerned about the fast deterioration of substandard roads called for the immediate enforcement of the load limits,鈥� Aduana said.
MANILA, Philippines鈥擜round 50 container trucks formed a caravan on Roxas Boulevard on Thursday, resulting in traffic congestion, and honked at the office of the Department of Public Works and Highways to protest and seek suspension of the implementation of the anti-overloading law.
听
鈥淲e are asking the DPWH to reconsider because the implementation is not credible. They are using a portable weighing scale. Or why not honor the weight according to the ports,鈥� said Mary Zapata, president of the truckers鈥� group, Aduana Business Club Inc.
听
In a statement, the group described the implementing rules as 鈥渋nconsistent, confusing and out of sync with international economic realities鈥� and the 鈥渋ncreasing apprehensions for overloading trucks have become another source of graft and extortion in our highways.鈥�
听
Due to the traffic congestion on both lanes of Roxas Boulevard, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada stepped in and invited the truckers to a dialogue.
听
鈥淭heir concerns involve national agencies. I promised that I will go out of my way to invite the national officials so they could discuss the problem,鈥� Estrada said.
听
鈥淏ut I gave them a warning. If they have complaints, don鈥檛 disturb the traffic flow. They will have to follow the local traffic laws. If this happens again, I will have them arrested,鈥� he said.
听
The proposed meeting on the truck loading issue will also involve the Departments of Trade and Industry, Interior and Local Governments, and Transportation and Communications; the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority; the Bureau of Customs; and the Land Transportation Authority.
听
The anti-overloading law, Republic Act No. 8794, was implemented to protect road pavements from being damaged by overloaded trucks.
听
Aduana, however, complains that there is no clear basis for a standard tolerable weight to avoid damaging the roads.
听
The group said that because the load limits have been 鈥渦nclear, inconsistent and unrealistic vis a vis international standards and requirements鈥� the administrations of former President Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have imposed a moratorium on its enforcement.
听
鈥淏ut until now, no such rationalization or action had been taken. What happened instead, is that the DPWH, ostensibly concerned about the fast deterioration of substandard roads called for the immediate enforcement of the load limits,鈥� Aduana said.