The MMDA has started implementing a more comprehensive truck ban since March 15, barely a week ago. Intended to be just a trial run, it will last until June 15 and will cover all light trucks, or those with gross capacity weight of 4,500 kilos and below. Along with EDSA, also covered by the new ban is the entire length of Shaw Boulevard, thus making it very hard for light trucks to move around the metro from 6 to 10 in the morning, and from 5 to 10 in the evening. This is to ease the already congested rush hour traffic during those periods.
An unfortunate casualty of the agency’s new traffic-mitigation measures are small private owners that use dropside/pickup style multi-cabs, which are also used as basic transport—exactly like a normal sedan.
Kasama po sir. #mmda
— Official MMDA (@MMDA) March 21, 2017
We asked them for a clarification if the ban would also cover normal pickups like the Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Strada, and Toyota Hi-Lux, vehicles that can actually take on the same role as a normal multi-cab, and actually occupies more space in our roads. We have yet to receive a reply though.
The MMDA really ought to address traffic starting with the most basic of things, like ridding the streets of obstructions and getting every vehicle to follow our road laws. Yes, this includes our favorite buses and jeepneys, many of whom take liberal use of our streets as their terminals, and often behave as if obeying traffic lights and signs are optional.