Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares thanked the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for assisting in the removal of a stalled trailer truck that had blocked motorists and caused slow traffic along Antipolo-Teresa Zigzag Road on Sunday, June 16.
According to Ynares, traffic began to slow down on the night of Saturday, June 15, due to the truck that suddenly broke down along the road on Villa Sampaguita.
At around 5 a.m. on Sunday, Ynares said that the truck was still blocking the road despite efforts by several towing services from Rizal and Metro Manila that used larger towing trucks to clear the road.
He said that none of the responding towing trucks were able to handle the weight of the damaged vehicle.
Since no towing trucks were able to move the vehicle, the truck's company owner attempted to send their mechanic to repair the engine of the damaged truck.
While waiting for the mechanic, Ynares sought assistance from the MMDA to remove the truck.
At around 12 p.m., the MMDA's new 50-ton wrecker crane arrived at the area and successfully removed the truck by 12:50 p.m., allowing the road to become passable for all vehicles.
Ynares expressed gratitude to MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes for their assistance, despite Antipolo not being part of Metro Manila.
“Sumuko na ang lahat ng pribadong towing companies mula sa Rizal at Metro Manila. Kagabi pa, iba’t ibang tow trucks ang sumubok pero walang nakayang magtanggal ng sasakyan (Since last night, different tow trucks from private towing companies from Rizal and Metro Manila tried to help us, but none of them were able to handle the weight of the truck),” he said.
"Salamat, MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes. Antipolo pa ata ang buena manong nakagamit ng bago ninyong 50-tonner na wrecker crane. Isang tawag lang, kahit hindi kami parte ng Metro Manila, kahit Sunday at Father's Day pa, andyan ka agad para tumulong (Thank you, MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes. Antipolo might have been the first to use your new 50-ton wrecker crane. In just one call, even if we're not part of Metro Manila, even if it's Sunday and Father's Day, you're ready to help)," Ynares added.
Meanwhile, Ynares mentioned that they fined the truck's company for illegal obstruction.
"Pinagmulta na din natin ng P5,000 (illegal obstruction) ang kumpanya ng truck. Walang may gusto ng aksidente pero responsibilidad ng mga may-ari ng mga sasakyan lalo na ng mga truck tulad nito na siguraduhin na in good running condition ang kanilang mga sasakyan bago bumiyahe (We have also fined the truck company for illegal obstruction worth P5,000. No one wants the accident, but it is the responsibility of the owners of vehicles, especially trucks like this, to make sure that their vehicles are in good running condition before traveling)," the mayor said.
"Mabuti nalang at walang nasaktan. Maximum amount allowed by law ang P5,000. Maliit na halaga kumpara sa napakalaking abala na nagawa nila sa mga motorista simula hating gabi hanggang ngayong tanghali (Fortunately, no one was hurt. The P5,000 is the maximum amount allowed by law, a small amount compared to the enormous inconvenience they caused to motorists from midnight until this afternoon)," Ynares added.