The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has clarified that only trucks and container vans keeping to the assigned truck routes during the MMDA’s truck ban hours will not be subjected to apprehension.
The statement came on the heels of a resolution passed unanimously on August 4 by the Metro Manila Metro Manila Council (MMC) to defy the “no apprehension policy” issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The MMC, the governing board and policymaking body of the MMDA composed of mayors of Metro Manila cities and municipalities, designated in June specific routes trucks and container vans may use during the MMDA’s truck ban period. The MMDA truck ban is meant to keep trucks and vans off other roads in the metro in a bid to help decongest Manila ports.
On the other hand, the LTFRB policy allows trucks for hire with green plates to ply Metro roads outside the MMDA’s truck-ban hours until August 29.
MMDA traffic constables have been instructed not to make apprehensions only on container trucks plying the routes that have been identified in the MMC resolution, according to Emerson Carlos, MMDA assistant general manager for operations.
The MMC-designated truck routes where no apprehensions may be conducted every day except Friday are as follows:
South Truck Route
From Port Area to SLEX—From Bonifacio Drive, turn left to P. Burgos, Finance Road, Ayala Boulevard, right to San Marcelino, left to UN Avenue, right to Plaza Dilao, right to President Quirino Extension, and left to Osmeña Highway
From SLEX to Port Area
From SLEX to destination—From SLEX, turn right to President Quirino, left to Plaza Dilao, left to United Nations, right to Romualdez Street, left to Ayala Blvd., P. Burgos, right to Bonifacio Drive, then to destination
North Truck Route
From Port Area to NLEX
From Bonifacio Drive, turn right to C-3, left to A. Bonifacio, then to NLEX/destination
From NLEX to Port Area
From Balintawak to A. Bonifacio, right to C-3, left to R-10, then to destination
Roxas Boulevard Truck Route
From Port Area to Cavitex (southbound only)
From Pier, take R-10 straight ahead to Roxas Boulevard to Cavitex
From Cavitex to Port Area
From Cavitex, take Roxas Boulevard, turn right to EDSA, take U-turn under Magallanes Interchange, take SLEX right to President Quirino, left to Plaza Dilao, left to United Nations, right to Romualdez Street, left to Ayala Blvd., P. Burgos, right to Bonifacio Drive, then to destination
“The purpose of these truck routes is to help address the port congestion problem in Manila. The MMDA will continue to respect these,” Carlos said in a statement.
Earlier, MMDA said in a position paper that it was strongly opposed to LTFRB’s memorandum circulars on the no apprehension policy.
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, chair of the MMC-Special Traffic Committee, also issued a resolution asking LTFRB to exclude Metro Manila from its rationalization plan and put on hold its no apprehension policy.
Moreover, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed Resolution No. 802 on August 4 questioning the legality of LTFRB’s two recent memorandum circulars on colorum buses and the no apprehension policy, being cited by many as the cause of the current traffic gridlock on Katipunan Avenue and parts of C5 Road.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. on August 5 said Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras will meet with LTFRB and MMDA this week to find a common ground to serve as the basis for a course of action acceptable to both agencies.
Image courtesy of Bill Longshaw / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
