Fake truck ban exemptions confiscated

TWENTY copies of fake certificate of exemption from the truck ban were confiscated by operatives of Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) from different truck drivers in line with the implementation of truck ban at the Circumferential Road.

BTAO head Luisito Acebuche said Monday that in their operation for almost two months, his personnel nabbed 20 fake certificates of exemption which bore forged signatures of the BTAO chief and with the date of expiration cut off from the document.

He cited that the most recent case was confiscated from the driver of Mrs. Melanie Flaviano of Flaviano Trucking and Services.

Acebuche said the driver’s license of the truck driver was immediately confiscated and he was ordered to report to BTAO to explain how he secured the fake certificate.

He said if the truck owners failed to report in BTAO, they will file charges for perjury and falsification of public documents against them.

He explained the truck ban has been implemented at the Circumferential Road since June 2012. The ban starts from 6 a.m. to 8 am and from 4 pm to 7 pm to ease the traffic congestion in the area.

He said they have already issued about 30 certificates of exemption to the truck ban which allows the vehicles to pass on the Circumferential Road during the ban period.

He added exemptions are issued only if the truck owner has a valid reason and that the exemption is valid only for one month.

To acquire the certificate of exemption from truck ban, Acehuche said the trucking owner should make a letter request address of the office of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Council (BTAC), and then it will be forwarded to the office of BTAO for the issuance of certificate with no fees required.

The BTAO chief warned the trucking owners and truck drivers from acquiring fake certificates of exemption or else appropriate charges will be filed against them.