The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is planning to extend the modified truck ban it implemented for the 2012 Christmas season due to the ban's reported success in reducing traffic in the metro.
"As per our initial assessment, the first three-week implementation of this modified truck ban was a success, especially in reducing traffic congestion in our road networks," said MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino.
Tolentino is reportedly consulting with his agency's policy-making body, the Metro Manila Council--specifically the Special Traffic Committee headed by Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista--concerning the planned extension of the new truck-ban rules.
Tolentino added that the modified truck-ban rules will complement the enhanced bus-segregation scheme on EDSA that is being implemented by his agency.
Originally, the truck ban ran from 6am to 9am and from 5pm to 9pm, except on EDSA where it was enforced from 6am to 9pm except on Sundays and holidays.
The modified truck ban that the MMDA rolled out in December ran from 6am to 10am and 5pm to 10pm every day except Sundays and holidays, with a total truck ban being implemented for the entire stretch of EDSA--from the Magallanes interchange in Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City--the whole day from Monday to Sunday.
The MMDA's modified truck ban was supposed to run only until January 6, 2013, after which the original truck-ban schedule was to once again take effect.
Should the MMDA extend the modified truck ban, or should it revert back to its original scheme as scheduled?
