Biz group says truck ban bad for economy

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

THE first day of the implementation of the 60-day truck ban in Mandaue City yesterday was considered successful by traffic authorities.

But Mandaue’s business sector thinks that the truck ban may not be good for business for the city, especially at night.

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Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) Chief Edwin Ermac said that since they started the dry run of the truck ban at 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. yesterday, trucks had not left their garages and warehouses.

But while Team enforcers saw trucks during the ban’s prescribed time, they were only issued citation tickets and a warning.

As stated by a Mandaue City Council resolution, trucks weighing at least 4,500 kilograms are prohibited to enter the city’s major thoroughfares from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., except on Sundays and holidays.

Exempted from the ban are ambulances and trucks carrying perishable items.

Ermac said the truck ban is aimed at minimizing traffic during the peak hours, as trucks have been observed to contribute greatly to the problem.

But one of Mandaue City’s business sector representatives doesn’t approve a truck ban.

Eric Ng Mendoza, president of the Mandaue Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday the truck ban can affect businesses in the city.

Mendoza said that with Mandaue City as a logistics and storage area in Cebu, the transport and delivery of goods will be affected, especially trucks plying their routes at 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

He said delivery trucks usually return to their bases of operation at those hours.

With the truck ban stopping their return, deliveries will be delayed and this will mean additional overtime pay for truck drivers, extra expenses that are usually passed on to consumers, Mendoza said.

Mendoza recommended that instead of a truck ban, the Mandaue City Government should instead focus on diverting or lessening the volume of public utility vehicles (PUVs) and private vehicles from the major thoroughfares.

That can be done through a number or color-coding scheme for PUJs and diverting private vehicles to other routes, Mendoza said.

He said the trucks had nothing to do with the worsening traffic condition in the city as they only occupy 15 to 18 percent of the road.