Pampanga truckers block NLEx entry, exit points

INTERVENTION. Gov. Dennis 'Delta' Pineda intervenes and talks to haulers to remove their trucks after a huge traffic jam at NLEX entry/exit points in the province. (Chris Navarro)
INTERVENTION. Gov. Dennis 'Delta' Pineda intervenes and talks to haulers to remove their trucks after a huge traffic jam at NLEX entry/exit points in the province. (Chris Navarro)

SOME 150 heavy trucks on Saturday morning, November 7, 2020, blocked various entry and exit points of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) in Pampanga over a ban on haulers of sand and gravel from the province.

Haulers put up the blockade to protest the policy of NLEx Corporation prohibiting the entry of 12-wheeler and 14-wheeler trucks on the tollway since late August.

Porac Truckers and Haulers Association President Lennard Lansang said the protest, which began at 6 a.m., paralyzed traffic at toll gates in San Simon, City of San Fernando, Mexico, Floridablanca, Porac, Angeles City, Dau, Mabiga and Sta. Ines.

He said truckers and haulers, along with quarry operators in the province, have complied with NLEx management’s call to cut the sidings of their trucks to attain the allowable weight load.

He added the ban suddenly covered not only 12-wheeler trucks but all. He claims that “selective entry” of some trucks has been going on since the NLEx “policy” was imposed.

Lansang said NLEx officials also snubbed the November 6 meeting with quarry trucking firms to finalize the allowable load of cargo, an opportunity that could have resolved the issue.

Governor Pineda intervenes

Lansang said they ended the protest at 7:20 a.m. after Governor Dennis Pineda committed to taking the issue to national leaders.

Heeding the appeal of the governor, some 2,000 haulers of Mt. Pinatubo’s sand and gravel have agreed to remove the 150 trucks that barricaded eight toll gates of NLEx.

“The NLEx is owned by the government. NLEx Corp. only manages it, but it decided to ban quarry trucks without consulting local government units,” the governor told reporters.

He criticized NLEx Corp. for “its slow system of resolving issues” and its “dribbling” of trucker and quarry groups, as it is represented by a basketball player.

“All that its management do is talk. It does not provide solutions. Dini-dribble kami ng representative nila. Tama ba iyong hindi sila sumipot sa meeting and notifying us on the day itself na hindi sila dadating?” Pineda said, adding he was worried for some 4,000 drivers and helpers who do not earn income as the ban entered its third month.

The daily rate of drivers and helpers are P1,000 and P500, respectively.

Haulers get a profit of P2,000 after operational expenses and amortization on vehicles.

Pineda said during the latest dialogue, haulers informed him that they have reduced the sidings of their trucks to be able to comply with the allowable load on NLEx.

“They cannot use the MacArthur Highway because it is busy and the road condition is bad,” he said.

The governor said the prohibition was not being enforced squarely because information reaching him showed that some patrol guards allow heavier trucks in exchange for P1,000.

Pineda also slammed the management of NLEx Corp. after two of its patrol guards arrested a protesting driver at gunpoint.

“We will seek legal action on that. Tama ba iyong susi lang ang hawak nung driver at hindi naman patalim o anumang armas? Tapos tinutukan pa at pinosas,” he said.

The governor vowed support for the truckers and their dependents on their plight, assuring that he would muster the resources of the provincial government to address the concerns of the stakeholders and resolve the issue soonest.

“Sa mga minamahal kong Kapampangan at truckers, asahan po ninyo namin kayo pababayaan at tutulungan,” Pineda said. (With reports from JTD)

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