Truck ban signages at Bacolod circumferential road sought

A BACOLOD City councilor has sought for the installation of signages indicating the schedule of truck ban, particularly along the Circumferential Road and within the perimeter of the downtown area, for the information and awareness of the public.

Councilor Caesar Distrito, in his resolution, cited that motorists and passengers in the city are already getting confused about the schedule of the truck ban, because they have observed that several heavy-loaded trucks pass by the circumferential road even if they were already banned from entering the road.

The same situation happens in the downtown area, where cargo trucks with lengths exceeding the requirement continue to pass even beyond the allowable period, said Distrito.

With this, he asked the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office/Traffic Management Unit (BTAO/TMU) and the City Engineer's Office through the Office of the City Mayor Evelio Leonardia to install the signages to inform the public about the schedule of the truck ban.

He said the move will also help stop the confusion and enforce the provisions of the ordinance on Public Information and Awareness.

Section E (VII) of City Ordinance 542, series of 2011, which amended the Comprehensive Traffic Management and Regulation Ordinance of 2003, provides that the BTAO/TMU shall post at least 10 signages in some significant portions along the circumferential road indicating the city ordinance number and the truck ban schedule, as well as the corresponding penalty for its violation.

The signages should indicate the following schedules of the truck ban, as provided in City Ordinance 542, series of 2011, which is between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and from Mondays to Fridays.

The ordinance also provides that all cargo/delivery trucks more than 4.8 tons and 16 feet shall be prohibited to enter within the perimeter of the downtown area.

City Ordinance 542, series of 2011 is already in effect for over a year but no signages were found in some significant places along the circumferential road nor along the perimeter of the downtown area. (CNC)