Traffic jams to ease soon, Palace says

MANILA, Philippines - The congestion in Metro Manila will ease by Aug. 16 as President Aquino and other government officials agreed to continue a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) crackdown on colorum trucks and buses, Malacañang said yesterday.

Government officials – following an inter-agency meeting in the Palace  yesterday – backed a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) moratorium on the apprehension of trucks-for-hire to give their owners time to apply for franchises.

Trucks-for-hire still using green plates are allowed to operate until Aug. 15 while in the process of applying for provisional authority with the LTFRB, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

“Effective Aug. 16…trucks without provisional authority will be apprehended and fined. Meanwhile, not-for-hire trucks owned by private individuals or organizations for their own use may apply for exemption from the (provisional authority) requirement,” Coloma said.

He said the exemption, effective for three years, will be given by the government for free.

Coloma however, said that despite the provisional authority or exemption, “green-plated trucks will continue to be covered by the existing truck ban and other traffic regulations.”

The Palace issued the statement to clarify the confusion arising from a circular issued by the LTFRB board on June 28 to stop apprehending trucks-for-hire still bearing green plates to allow them to apply for franchises and avail of the yellow plates.

LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said the provisional authority will be valid until Oct. 17, by which time “the franchises of the trucks bearing the provisional authority should be issued to the operators.”

As for colorum – without a franchise – and out-of-line buses on EDSA and other parts of the metropolis, Coloma said the apprehensions will continue.

The MMDA apprehended 15 more out-of-line buses in Pasay City on the second day of its campaign. The agency impounded 32 vehicles on the first day.

Coloma said the routes for provincial buses going through Metro Manila will be rationalized, this time by both the LTFRB and the MMDA.

The MMDA and the mayors earlier opposed the rationalization, citing that provincial buses should never be allowed on Metro Manila roads. Ginez said it was agreed during the meeting that the MMDA’s stance was not feasible at the moment since the integrated transport terminals are not yet in place.

The other issues, Coloma said, would have to be consulted with Metro Manila mayors in a meeting set next week.

Looming crisis

Concerned about the adverse impact of the congestion at two of the major ports in Metro Manila, the Senate is set to conduct an inquiry in order to find possible solutions to what could be a potential crisis.

Senators Francis Escudero and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV filed separate resolutions calling for the investigation into the congestion at the Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Port.

The city of Manila recently imposed a daytime truck ban to address the traffic jams in the city. Philippine Ports Authority general manager Juan Sta. Ana earlier said 75,000 shipping containers remain unclaimed at the two ports as a result of the ban.

He said the Cabinet cluster on port congestion has ordered that unclaimed containers be transferred to the Batangas port and a facility in Laguna.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said yesterday the ban will stay. He said the ban did not affect the country’s economy.

Estrada said the city government has given truckers 24-hour access to Roxas Boulevard’s innermost lane. – With Mike Frialde, Jose Rodel Clapano, Marvin Sy