Capitol to limit coal truck loads to protect roads

CEBU, Philippines - After it imposed a load limit on sand, gravel and quarry truck operators traveling the provincial roads across Cebu, the provincial government will also impose the same to trucks loading and hauling coal.

The Provincial Board approved in first reading the proposed ordinance setting load limit on trucks loading and hauling coal plying the provincial roads within the province.

Board Member Thadeo Ouano, the proponent of the proposal, said the purpose of the ordinance is to protect provincial roads and vital infrastructure like bridges from damage caused by trucks weighing more than these roads and bridges can accommodate.

Provincial roads are all roads constructed, owned and maintained by the provincial government including those that belong to the national, city/municipal or barangay government whose maintenance has been turned over to the provincial government.

Once Ouano’s proposal is approved, it shall be unlawful for any person to consent, operate or drive a hauling truck carrying coal, as defined herein, exceeding ten cubic meters or approximately 16 tons per truck.

A ten-wheeler hauling truck is presumed to be carrying coal within the limit set if its dumpbox dimensions does not exceed to 2.30 meters in width, 4.73 meters in length and 1.30 meters in height or its equivalent, for trucks of different make and dumpbox sizes.

It shall also be unlawful to load or to cause the loading of any dump trucks which does not contain the following markings “for coal hauling use only” for ease and to facilitate in identification, inspection and implementation of the above-mentioned load limit.

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office shall be the lead agency in implementing the ordinance with the assistance of the local government concerned duly deputized by the Office of the Governor.

Violations shall be punishable by a fine of P5,000 with or by imprisonment of one year, and the cancellation of the offender’s transport permit and other permits issued by the Provincial Government if applicable.

However, in lieu of the filing of a criminal complaint, the offender may opt to pay the administrative fine of P10,000 per truck per violation. —(FREEMAN)