The Manila City government has stopped requiring the permit to travel from truckers as a result of the trucking holiday, according to the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP).
The trucking group, in an announcement to members on January 13, claimed the removal of the requirement—which reportedly costs around P2,000 per truck unit per month—is a result of the trucking holiday that it staged. The stoppage began on January 13 to highlight numerous issues hounding the industry, some of which have remained unsolved for years, it added.
CTAP said it will continue the trucking holiday on January 14-15 as other issues continue to confront the trucking industry and still need resolution.
READ: CTAP trucking holiday pushes through
These include the recent implementation of the Navotas City limited truck ban; truck bans and pass-through imposed by other local government units (LGU); accreditation requirement of the Philippine Ports Authority; heavy traffic in the metropolis; one-way policy along Isla Puting Bato; and alleged abusive towing operations of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau.
READ: Navotas gov’t rejects industry petitions to suspend truck ban
Other issues cited include the looming phase-out of trucks that are more than 15 years old; implementation of the Anti-Overloading Law; return of empty containers; delay in the return of container deposit by foreign shipping lines; and the Terminal Appointment Booking System in Manila’s international terminals.
The trucking holiday may continue until such time that concerned government agencies and LGUs agree to sit with CTAP to finally address these concerns, the trucking group said. – Roumina Pablo
