Prime movers and cargo trucks are back on S. Osmena Road in Cebu City. The truck ban was lifted on Monday, as the APEC meetings move to Lapu-Lapu City. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)
The truck ban in Mandaue City is set to be lifted tomorrow as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings move to Mactan.
Glenn Antigua, acting chief of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM), said the regular truck ban from 6 a.m to 8 a.m and from 5 p.m to 7 p.m will still be in effect.
A team from the Land Transportation Office (LTO 7) will be on standby to monitor truckers not following traffic rules.
Antigua said they will immediately issue Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) to drivers found violating traffic rules.
As of today, trucks are still not allowed to use Plaridel Street, A. Soriano Avenue, E.O Perez St. and Ouano Ave. from 6 a.m to 10 p.m. as some APEC delegates will still be traveling between Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City and Radisson Blu in Cebu City.
The truck ban in Cebu City was lifted on Monday since most of the APEC meetings have been concluded. The bulk of the meetings this week will be held in Mactan.
The Central Visayas Police Regional Office has deployed an additional platoon to Lapu-Lapu City to secure the APEC meetings.
Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc, Lapu-Lapu City Police chief, said they now have a total of 528 security personnel to secure the APEC routes, meeting venues and hotels and resorts.
“Our local police will continue with their foot patrols and checkpoints to prevent crimes and ensure immediate response to any alarm,” he said.
Radoc said they also coordinated with the barangays hosting the hotels and resorts, where the APEC delegates are staying.
Unlike in Cebu City, there will be no rerouting of public utility jeepneys in Lapu-Lapu City.
Frank Brazil, City Traffic Management Services of Lapu-Lapu City head, said APEC vehicles will just be given priority.
“We don’t have alternative routes so we won’t implement any rerouting. Traffic flow is not so much a problem here. We have deployed several traffic personnel. APEC vans will be given priority,” he said.
In Mandaue City, Antigua said the APEC organizers have commended them for the smooth traffic flow.
“So far, their assessment was we were able to manage the traffic contrary to what has been reported,” Antigua said.
In Cebu City, traffic was not as heavy as expected yesterday despite the city tour for the media and some APEC delegates.
Jonathan Tumulak, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) operations head, said only light vehicles passed the route taken by the APEC group.
“The heavy traffic that we were worried about did not happen. It was manageable,” Tumulak said.
He said Highway Patrol Group personnel also helped enforcers manage the traffic.
Most of the Third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and Related Meetings, which were held in Cebu City hotels, have been concluded with around 3,000 participants.
The Structural Reforms Ministerial Meeting, which is being held in Radisson Blu, will also end today.
Central Bank deputies and Finance senior officials will meet starting tomorrow, ahead of the Finance Ministers’ Meeting on Sept. 10, in Mactan.
Two more ministerial meetings, on energy and transportation, will be held in Cebu in October./With Correspondent Nestle L. Semilla