Amendment of truck ban ordinance sought

A DAVAO City councilor is looking for the possibility of pursuing the amendment of truck ban ordinance in the city by coming up with a specific schedule and designating roads where big trucks can enter the major thoroughfares to mitigate traffic congestion in the city.

Committee on transportation and communication chair Councilor Conrado Baluran said in his privilege speech during the regular session at City Council that it's time to revisit the truck ban ordinance, considering the apparent heavy traffic that is prevailing in the city, which has been the major problem of many commuters.

Baluran cited that big trucks are seen to be one of the major factors that contributed to the traffic problems in some key areas in the city.

Their committee has called for a multi-sectoral transportation meeting on January 27 where national and local government agencies are invited in a bid to address the problem.

Among the agencies expected to join in the meeting are the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, City Transport and Traffic Management Office, Department of Transportation, and Highway Patrol Group.

Officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Davao Light and Power Company, Davao City Water District and operators engage in the transportation business are also requested to attend.

Baluran said this aims to find a concrete solution to the worsening traffic condition of the city.

"Reality tells us that our roads and bridges are tight and small, aggregated by the increase of light and heavy vehicles passing through them," he said.

Last December 22 and 23 and January 3 and 4, 2017, they learned that the traffic build-up along Bunawan to Panacan and along Dumoy to Matina Crossing during peak hours (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) is very heavy.