Truck ban violators to face P500 in fine
At least two trucks were caught plying N. Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City yesterday, defying the truck ban being set during critical hours of the day.
Although Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) chief Francisco Ouano said his team did not issue citation tickets to these trucks' drivers out of consideration, the drivers were nonetheless warned they would face consequences if the violation gets repeated.
Violators of the truck ban will be slapped with a fine of P500.
Ouano also said they let the violation pass this time because the drivers claimed not being informed of the ban.
“Wala lang sa gi-issue-han og citation tickets kay first time pa nila moagi. Gawas kung habitual na sila nga niagi sa area, despite sa information sa policy. Makita man namo kinsa ang magsige og agi,” Ouano told The FREEMAN yesterday.
The CCTO began yesterday its strict implementation of the truck ban on the avenue as excavation works for the P638-million underpass project there has already commenced.
The measure, which covers fuel tankers, cement mixers, dump trucks, garbage trucks, delivery trucks, and sixwheeler trucks and above, is hoped to ease traffic in the area while preparatory works for the project are being done.
Under the policy, trucks will not be allowed to use portion of N. Bacalso Avenue from Barangay Bulacao to Barangay Mambaling from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The ban was initially put in place starting August 9, but the CCTO considered the first week as an adjustment period.
Ouano said that from here on, they will be more stringent with the implementation.
He also noted that traffic in the area has not been as bad as before the truck ban was set.
According to the traffic scheme, all northbound private cars are to take Sabellano Street to F. Llamas Street in the morning, and all southbound private cars to Maria Gotchan Street and Caimito Street in the afternoon.
As for all southbound public utility jeepneys, they are to use the other lane of N. Bacalso Avenue. All mini buses and buses, meanwhile, may pass through the Cebu South Coastal Road.
BORING WORK
WT Construction Inc., contractor of the project, will start boring holes on the road today.
After the boring of holes, steel cage reinforcement will be installed in preparation for the pouring of concrete materials.
The contractor is presently undertaking the installment of pile concrete guide forms on N. Bacalso Avenue, particularly in front of a shopping center at the corner of F. Llamas Street. It officially began construction last Tuesday.
Although the project is expected to be finished within 18 months, the truck ban will be in effect for at least four months.