Truck drivers cleared to use S. Osmeña Road

A traffic personnel stops a truck driver passing along S. Osmeña Road early in the morning. Trucks are allowed to use the road provided there are no APEC delegates passing in the area, while other routes are off limits from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Truck drivers should pass through Sergio Osmeña Road at the North Reclamation Area rather than on routes designated for delegates of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.

“We must be clear on this. We are not disallowing the truck drivers, van and trailer drivers from using S. Osmeña Road along the North Reclamation Area,” said Rey Gealon, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) chief yesterday.

He was told by Lito Maderazo, head of the APEC Cebu organizing committee, about  complaints of truck drivers who were apprehended for violating the 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. truck ban.

Gealon said most of the violators were apprehended at Pope John Paul Avenue and Juan Luna Avenue.

Both streets are part of the ceremonial route for  APEC delegates that were declared off limits to trucks and passenger jeepneys.

Inconvenience
Gealon said the drivers chose to pass through these routes because they are  shorter.

He said the truck drivers should pass through S. Osmeña Road instead even if it is a longer way.

“They should follow  the mayor’s order on this,” the CCTO chief said.

Gealon also asked truck drivers to bear with the inconvenience since the APEC meetings  will last  till Sept. 11.

Maderazo said truckers should coordinate with local government units so their operations won’t be affected by the APEC truck ban.
Acceptable

“We met with Mandaue City traffic officials and they said they are imposing a truck ban in consultation with the truckers and they are providing access,” he told reporters in a weekly forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) yesterday.

He said the truck ban was crafted with inputs from several parties, and they were able to find solutions that were “mutually acceptable”.

CCTO is imposing a 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. truck ban on J. Luna St. to Salinas Drive, Salinas Drive to Veterans Drive and J. Luna Avenue corner Archbishop Reyes to Gorordo Ave., and Archbishop Reyes Ave.

Lawyer Rafael Yap, former CCTO executive director, said the truck ban was crafted in coordination with the Cebu Truckers’ Association and the Cebu Port Authority.

“There are other access points other than J. Luna to go where they want<’ he said during the forum.

Yap said the truckers’ only concern was passage through  Sergio Osmeña Boulevard since they have shipments for Talisay City in the south and the Transcentral Highway.

In Mandaue City, trucks, vans, trailers and other vehicles with six wheels and above are not allowed on Plaridel St., A. Soriano Ave. and Ouano Ave, between 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Sept. 5.

Maderazo said the truck ban is “not absolute” since the Mandaue City government provides alternative access points./With Correspondent Nestle L. Semilla