The Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) want to reimpose its earlier agreement with the PhilippineNational Police (PNP) to curb hijacking in the country.This time, however, the businessmen and truckers want the contract to have more teeth.
CCCI, CTAP and the PNP entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) two years ago to work hand in hand to improve the government’s anti-hijacking campaign.Hijacking is one of the major problems of businessmen and truckers in the country, particularly when shipping products to the countryside and back.
This year alone, about five incidents of hijacking have been reported and the number is expected to further rise in the next few months. Hijacking has been cited as one of the reasons for the continuing rise in prices of commodities.Among the conditions of the new agreement is the use of pass cards both for the driver and cargoes which will be presented to different choke points in the country.CTAP president Rodolfo De Ocampo said the use of the cards will establish the identity of the driver and cargo. "It will avert the possibility of hijacking. It is one measure to address hijacking in the country," he stressed, adding that the police could declare the cargo as deemed hijacked without the pass cards.
Additional check points will also be established in strategic points in the country which will be identified by the CCCI, truckers and the police.The three groups already met in Camp Crame last week to iron out kinks of the amended agreement and expect to implement the process anytime soon.
