Light truck ban on EDSA begins Dec. 1; truck ban in other NCR roads still suspended –MMDA

Light trucks would be prohibited to pass through EDSA from morning to evening starting Wednesday-December 1, 2021, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Tuesday.

However, the ban on trucks along other roads in the National Capital Region (NCR) would remain suspended.

At a virtual press briefing, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said that “the light truck ban along EDSA is hereby reimplemented.”

The MMDA had previously allowed light trucks to pass through EDSA from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in a bid to help the economy recover by easing mobility restrictions along the NCR’s busiest thoroughfare amid the pandemic.

The MMDA chairman said that light trucks would be prohibited from plying EDSA between Magallanes, Makati City, and North Avenue, Quezon City for both northbound and southbound from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday, except holidays.

“Light trucks shall refer to motor vehicles whether for commercial use or not with a gross capacity weight of 4,500 kilograms or below or having six or more tires, and a payload of which are either close or open,” Abalos said.

Exempted from the light truck ban along Edsa are “garbage trucks, fuel trucks, trucks carrying essential or perishable goods.”

Abalos, however, noted that "the truck ban hours in the NCR shall remain suspended until further notice.”

“So sa EDS lang ang truck ban natin (So the truck is only along EDSA). On the other hand, the truck ban hours in the NCR shall remain suspended. So sa ibang lugar pu-pwede ang trucks (in other areas trucks are allowed),” he said,

Abalos said the light truck ban on EDSA and the continued suspension of truck ban in NCR shall take effect on December 1, along with the reimplementation of the modified number coding scheme in Metro Manila.

The modified scheme, which will only cover private vehicles, will be implemented during afternoon rush hour, or from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Abalos said.

The MMDA chairman said the continued suspension of truck ban hours in other NCR roads was better than only allowing them during certain hours of the day since trucks “released” on the roads would be distributed for the entire day and would not be concentrated only during certain hours which worsens traffic congestion. — DVM, GMA News