The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has formally extended for one year the moratorium on implementation of the anti-overloading policy covering certain types of trucks.
A public advisory signed by Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya extended the “suspension of the enforcement of the maximum allowable gross vehicle weight (GVW) for trucks/trailers under codes 12-2 and 12-3” until July 31, 2016.
DPWH said the extension is in response to truckers’ request for more time to acquire units that will conform with the GVW requirement under Republic Act (RA) No. 8794 or “An Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle’s Charge on Owners of All Types of Vehicle and for Other Purposes.”
The advisory formalizes Singson’s verbal agreement with Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) director Alberto Suansing to extend the moratorium which expired on July 31, 2015.
Since RA 8794 was issued in 2013, the provision on the implementation for the GVW for trucks under codes 12-2 and 12-3 has been put on hold.
CTAP earlier said more than 50% of trucks nationwide are classified under the two codes, and that the only way truckers can comply with the directive is if the allowable GVW is upgraded to 54,000 kilograms, higher than the 41,000 kilograms specified in the revised implementing rules of RA 8794.
Code 12-2 trucks are semi-trailers with three axles on the towing trucks and two axles on the trailer, for a total of 18 wheels, while trucks with the 12-3 configuration are semi-trailers with three axles on the towing vehicle and three axles on the trailer, for a total of 22 wheels.
Under the revised IRR of RA 8794, trucks and trailers with codes 12-2 and 12-3 with loads exceeding the prescribed GVW of 41,500 kilograms and 42,000 kilograms, respectively, and load per axle of 13,500 kilograms are considered overloaded and prohibited from traveling.
An amount equivalent to 25% of the motor vehicle user’s charge in the motor vehicle registration filed with the Land Transportation Office will be imposed on apprehended overloaded trucks. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of Keerati at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
