The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has extended the uniform light truck ban on EDSA and Shaw Boulevard for another three months after having deemed the policy effective.
The ban, which was supposed to have ended on June 15, was extended until September 15 because “travel speed and time survey showed that this traffic intervention measure has been effective,” according to Cris Saruca of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) secretariat.
MMC is the policymaking body of MMDA that issued a resolution in March this year to implement the light-truck ban. A trial run was executed from March 15 to March 18 before full enforcement of the regulation on March 20.
The regulation prohibits trucks with a gross capacity weight of 4,500 kilograms and below from plying EDSA and Shaw Boulevard (from Mandaluyong City to Pasig City) from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The uniform light truck ban is enforced from Mondays to Saturdays except Sundays and holidays. Exempt are light trucks carrying perishable goods, though they still need to apply for exemption, and government and emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances.
Under the resolution, violators will be slapped with a P2,000 fine.
MMDA general manager Thomas Orbos earlier cited a need to regulate light trucks on the roads, saying they also contribute significantly to traffic congestion.
“This is only one of the several measures that (have) been approved by the local executives during the meeting in an effort to further improve traffic condition in Metro Manila,” Orbos said.
Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines executive director Norman Adriano earlier told PortCalls that the order would “affect deliveries to supermarkets/groceries,” but that there shouldn’t be problems because retailers, stores, and supermarkets along EDSA and Shaw Boulevard could adjust their receiving time, and the measure was “easy to adapt to.”
Image courtesy of nitinut at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
