BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan approved a fourth 10-day suspension of the implementation of the new truck ban in the city to allow all stakeholders to submit their proposals for an exemption that will be forwarded to the local legislative body for confirmation.
The local chief executive said this last extension will provide stakeholders enough time for them to submit their proposals on exemptions of certain sectors from the coverage of the truck ban to avoid serious negative impact on businesses affected by the strict implementation of the ban.
“We understand the plight of those affected by the new truck ban in the city on their trade and the delivery of basic services to our people that is why we provided them the necessary leeway to submit their proposals for us to consider as part of the administrative order covering the exemption from the ban that will also be forwarded to the local legislative body for confirmation while awaiting final action on the proposed amendments to the new truck ban ordinance,” Domogan stressed.
The Philex Mining Corporation, Benguet Truckers and Traders Association, Inc., Cordillera Truckers Cooperatives, cutflower truckers and various water delivery companies operating in the city have submitted separate requests for exemption from the coverage of the new truck ban because delays caused by the ban seriously impacts negatively on their operations and the delivery of perishable goods to the market as well as basic services to the people in the different barangays in the city.
Last March 21, 2017, Domogan issued the first 10-day suspension of the truck ban followed by a separate order on March 31, 2017, and the third order of suspension on April 10, 2017.
After the meeting with the concerned truckers, he said that the necessary administrative order detailing those who will be exempted from the coverage of the truck ban will be issued and the same order will be forwarded to the local legislative body for confirmation so that there will be no complications in the implementation of the new truck ban once it will be enforced by May 1, 2017.
Under the provisions of Ordinance No. 05, series of 2017, 6-wheeler trucks having a gross weight of more than 4,500 kilos, heavy equipment, trailers, among others are prohibited from plying the roads in the city from 6 am to 9 am and from 4 am to 9 pm daily.
He said there is merit on the requests for exemption from the coverage of the truck ban that is why the local government is doing everything to balance concerns so as not to compromise the economic activities of the people and the traffic congestions around the city, especially during rush hours which is the major concern that the new truck ban ordinance intends to effectively and efficiently address with the cooperation of the concerned sectors. /By Dexter A. See#
