Two of the country's biggest trucking groups said plans by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to totally ban trucks from EDSA will translate to higher logistics costs.
The Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) and Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO) described EDSA as a vital link between ports, airports and major business establishments that a ban on its use will disrupt the flow of goods and increase logistics costs and transit time. The move, they said, will result in higher prices of local goods and reduced competitiveness of Philippine products in the international market.
Trucks are currently banned from EDSA only during daytime. Compliance to this policy "is already a big sacrifice (on the part of truckers) for the sake of decongesting heavy traffic in the area," CTAP president Ruperto Bayocot told PortCalls.
He called MMDA's recent imposition of the number-coding scheme on public utility buses as a step in the right direction toward decongesting EDSA. This, he said, when implemented properly, should be enough measure to declog the thoroughfare.
For his part, ACTOO president Ricky Papa called on MMDA to further study its plan, noting the ban will seriously disrupt delivery schedules.
CTAP, ACTOO and various establishments along EDSA are seeking an audience with MMDA to air their views.
Aside from this planned truck ban, truckers are fighting the respective 10% and 250% increase in toll fees at the North and South Luzon expressways.
