Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. has vowed to arrest any person who would engage in extorting activities on trucker groups.
Abalos issued the statement after a meeting with Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) which raised the issue of extortion activities along the road while he brough up the issue of the implementation of the Executive Order No. 41.
Executive Order No. 41 prohibits the collection of pass-through fees on national roads and urging the local government units (LGUs) to suspend the collection of any form of fees for all types of vehicles transporting goods under Section 153 or 155 of Republic Act (RA) no. 7160 otherwise known as “The local Government Code of 1991.’’
With no truck ban imposed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the City of Manila, there are still some localities in the National Capital Region (NCR) that implement the policy.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes appealed to the concerned LGUs to allow the free-flow of vehicles carrying goods on roads that will allow this, adding that some streets are too narrow for trucks to pass through.
During the meeting, Abalos noted the plan is for the DILG to coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other agencies to create ‘truck routes’ nationwide to enable authorities to monitor the traffic flow and immediately act on any problems on the road.
Further, Abalos asserted that the planned national ‘truck route’ will aid the police detect and facilitate the arrest of crooks or unscrupulous groups.
In the case of impassable roads for trucks, Abalos cited the urgency of the concerned groups with respect to the LGUs to identify possible alternative routes that may allow trucks to cruise and deliver their products for the ‘ease of doing business.’
Maria Zapata of CTAP acknowledged Abalos for exercising his supervisory powers not only in metro Manila but also in the whole country in giving importance to Executive Order No. 41 for his support of the President’s direction to lower the cost of goods and to lower the inflation rate.
She expressed hope that all the LGUs, local officials and the barangays will follow Abalos’ lead in order for what was discussed during the meeting to be implemented at the soonest time given that a one month timeline was ordered by the DILG chief.
Admitting horrible traffic situation in Metro Manila traffic, Abalos called on the MMDA to request private and government offices to have staggered off hours of 4 p.m, 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. for their employees to reduce the number of human and vehicular traffic on the road.