Truckers oppose return of truck ban, say it may affect prices of goods

Truckers on Monday called for the extension of the truck ban suspension on EDSA and C5 Road as lifting the suspension would slow down operations and affect the prices of goods.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Confederation of Truckers' Association of the Philippines chairperson Ruperto Bayocot said they are also requesting for a 24/7 single-lane truck route.

“'Yung hanay po namin magpa-file po ng request for extension ng suspension. Ang gusto sana na namin mabigyan kami ng 24/7 truck route, single lane, para lahat naman makakadaan ng maayos,” he said.

“Alam ng motorista kapag ang truck route single lane katulad ng C5, Katipunan Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, Road 10, nakakadaan naman nang maayos ‘yung private vehicles,’ he added.

According to Bayocot, truckers have not still recovered from the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also warned that the resumption of the truck ban -- which started on Monday -- may affect the prices of some goods, as the additional expenses in  limited hours of delivery may pass onto the cost of the products.

“Malaki po ang kawalan sa ating ekonomiya dahil babagal lalo ang turnaround ng truck. Magresulta po ito ng problema katulad ng port congestion,” Bayocot said.

“The truckers are the movers of our economy. Kaya kung ano man ang additonal expenses ho niyan, that should be passed onto the cost of goods from the importer,” he added.

With the resumption of the ban, trucks are prohibited to operate in concerned thoroughfares from 6 to 10 a.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. every day except Sunday and holidays.

“A total of nine hours na hindi po kami makakalabas, naiipon lang po kami sa kanya-kanyang garahe po namin,” Bayocot said.

“After the truck ban hour, parang alon po 'yan. Kanya-kanya ho ng takbo, sasakupin na lahat ng lane para makahabol sa kanya-kanyang delivery destinations,” he added.

According to him, some of their members have to pay penalty of up to P3,600 if they arrive late in their destinations under the terminal appointment booking system (TABS).

“Nakakalungkot nga po na 'yung re-implementation ng truck ban sa Metro Manila kasi hindi pa tayo nakarekober ng ating ekonomiya dahil sa pandemic,” he said.

In a separate interview, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority spokesperson Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago said the suspension of the truck ban has been lifted to avoid heavy traffic as more motorists are now returning to to roads with the gradual loosening of restrictions caused by the pandemic.

“Ang truck ban naman po, bago pa man ang pandemya ay polisiya na po natin sa mga pangunahing kalsada sa Metro Manila,” Pialago said.

According to her, the number of vehicles recorded on EDSA during the general community quarantine was 200,000 to 210,000.

After a few months with the gradual reopening of the economy, the number grew to almost 300,000.

“Originally, ang bilang ng mga sasakyan sa EDSA nasa 400,000 to 410,000. So, unti-unti na po nating nararamdaman ang pagbalik ho ng mga motorist,” she said.

Pialago also said that truckers under TABS are not covered by the truck ban.

On the request of of truckers for a lane dedicated to them, Pialago said the MMDA will review it. She however admitted that the request is unlikely to be granted since, she said, the roads are already filled with other vehicles. —KBK, GMA News