City to enforce truck ban starting Dec. 1

Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo will impose an experimental truck ban starting December 1 in 40 major streets from 6:00AM to 1:00PM and from 4:00PM to 8:00PM everyday, except Sunday and holidays.

Hence, entry of trucks will only be allowed from 1:00PM to 4:00PM and 8:00PM to 6:00AM from Monday to Saturday.

The truck ban is another experiment whether traffic congestion in the downtown area can be reduced to the minimum. A lot of motorist and pedestrian complain that trailer trucks, dump trucks, heavy equipment and other movers that weigh 4.5 tons or more are a major cause of heavy traffic.

Trucks will no longer be allowed to enter Macias Road, Perdices Street, Real Street, Romero Road, Rizal Boulevard, Flores Avenue, Veterans Avenue, Rovira Road, E.J. Blanco Road, Aldecoa Road, Gothong Avenue, Silliman Avenue, San Juan Street, Noblefranca Street, Sta. Catalina Street, San Jose Street, Dr. V. Locsin Street, Surban Street, Colon Street, Pinili Street, De La Vina Street, Motong-Batinguel Road, Mabini Street, Ma. Cristina Street, Angatan Road, Cervante Street, Independencia Street, Taft Street, Tan-Pedro Street, Burgos Street, Katada Street, Candy-ong Road, Dr. Miciano Road, Route 7, Espina Road, Cimafranca Street and Port Road.

However, there are exemptions in the truck ban period namely, water delivery trucks actually used in assisting fire-fighting, fire trucks, company vehicles of public utilities actually doing repair works, government registered trucks, trucks used in implementing government projects, heavy equipment already at worksite, trucks used during emergency or calamities and trucks carrying perishable goods.

The Traffic Management Office suggests alternative route for passing through trucks from South to North: from Macias road, turn left Mangno-Bagacay Road, turn right Lesana Street, turn left Romero Road, turn right Martinez Road, turn left Balugo-Cadawinonan road, turn right Balugo road passing the bridge towards Camanjac towards West Rovira Road then turn left Veterans Avenue towards their destination.

For passing through trucks north to south: from Veterans Avenue turn right Bunao Road, turn left Cornelia Drive, then turn right Camanac Road, turn left Catarata Road, turn right Dumaguete-Palinpinon Road, turn left dumpsite road, turn left Balugo Cadawinonan Road, turn right Martinez road, turn left Romero road, turn right Lesana Street, turn left Mangnao-Bagacay road then turn right Macias Road towards their destination.

However, entry of passing trucks, specifically along Bagacay-Batinguel Road, Dumaguete Palinpinon Road and Larena Drive are not allowed from 6:00AM to 8:30AM and from 4:30PM to 6:30PM.

Businessmen are appealing for the rescheduling of the truck ban this December to January 2018 in consideration of the holiday season when the volume in the flow of goods and services increases significantly.