Public hearing on truck ban set for next week

THE Mandaue City Council will organize a public consultation next week on a proposed truck ban ordinance.

The ordinance seeks to ban trucks weighing 4,500 kilograms and above on major roads from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. except Sundays and non-working holidays.

The public hearing, which aims to gather different stakeholders, will be held at the City Hall at 2 p.m. on Oct. 18.

The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) has requested the City Council to pass a truck ban ordinance to ease traffic during peak hours.

Team head Edwin Ermac said they have been enforcing the ban through City Council resolutions.

“We keep on renewing the resolution implementing a dry run of the truck ban,” he said.

The 60-day dry run has been extended four times.

The truck ban covers trucks, vans, trailers, mixers, tankers and other large vehicles.

Vehicles weighing 4,500 kilograms and above are covered except those carrying perishable goods like meat and fruits.

Ermac said the dry runs have improved the city’s traffic situation. But a truck ban will not totally solve traffic congestion in the city.

Factors causing traffic gridlocks include vehicular accidents, breakdowns and road repair, Ermac said.