Ban on trucks causing woes

Businesses “feeling the pinch”

CEBU, Philippines - Just days of its enforcement, different businesses in Cebu are starting to feel the negative effects of the ban prohibiting trucks from plying certain roads to allow for smoother traffic for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit delegates. This according to the Cebu Truckers Association, Inc.

“Instead of boosting economic growth, it (truck ban) impedes it because of the restricted flow of goods. (The concern is) on terms of the truck ban and its effect to the turnaround of equipment or cargo,” said the CTAI President Gabriel Cruz.

Cruz explained that in a day, there are around 500 to 700 containers that need to be transported in and out of Cebu ports both for the importation and exportation of goods. However, due to the truck ban, he said only 50 percent of the average number of containers can either be delivered or pulled out from the port.

Cruz said further that the given number of transported goods does not even include the figure of domestic cargoes which are two to three times higher.

“The port is operational to 24 hours… That by itself is not enough to turnaround equipment at the port, more so that the truck ban is ongoing… Transportation of goods is limited,” he said in a telephone interview.

“No matter how efficient port operation systems are, compressing the volume of cargo is not enough to be squeezed in a small window of transporting goods because of the truck ban,” he said further.

The truck was imposed last August 22 and ban trucks from using certain streets from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., forcing truckers to adjust and carry out most operations in the evening.

“Now, the problem is, are the warehouses or factories in the business sector willing to operate during nighttime?” he said, adding that this may also result to an increase in overtime pay costs, not to mention the potential dangers of operating at night.

“Any slight delay in transporting goods will automatically affect the inventories or the merchandise equipment and may compromise the other firms’ costs as they might consider to airship the goods instead,” he said, adding that supermarkets might end up with empty shelves.

Together with the CCTO, this concern was brought up in a special meeting yesterday with APEC’s Local Organizing Committee in Cebu, the Land Transportation Office-7 and among other key officials.

Just bear with us

In a separate interview, CCTO Executive Director Rey Gealon said he was told by Local Organizing Committee head Lito Maderazo that the truck ban has affected the truckers’ respective businesses.

“There is a concern that it affects their business. It may affect their business but then again we have agreed about it prior to its implementation that trucks are allowed to ply the routes on the inclusive hours of the truck ban,” he said.

As of yesterday, CCTO revealed that around 70 truck drivers were issued traffic citation tickets as they were about to pass through restricted roads.

Most of the apprehended truck drivers drove along Pope John Paul II Avenue and the Juan Luna Avenue, Gealon said.

Truckers will not be allowed to traverse along Cebu Veterans Drive; Salinas Drive; Pope John Paul II Avenue (formerly Juan Luna); Archbishop Reyes Avenue until September 5.

“We have agreed about it and we will continue to implement it especially that this is pursuant to the memorandum order from the city mayor…. We are not disrupting business and it is not the policy of the mayor to disrupt any business,” said Gealon.

He said having fewer trucks along the priority roads has helped in providing smooth traffic. A single truck, which may be equivalent to three cars, is a contributory factor in obstructing traffic on roads, he said.

Gealon said truckers can use Serging Osmeña Boulevard at the North Reclamation Area to continue with their business. However, this means a longer haul for many truckers.

“They can always use the road in order not to disrupt business, it may be a long way for them and not the usual way but then again they are still allowed to use the road for business purposes,” he said, asking them to just bear with the traffic strategy considering that the APEC events will only last for two weeks. — /BRP (FREEMAN)