To decongest Metro Manila’s ports and speed up delivery of goods in the metropolis, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will implement “24 hour last mile truck routes” for two weeks.
MMDA Chairperson Francis Tolentino on Friday said the scheme was approved at the Cabinet meeting that was requested by truckers.
“The enforcement of last mile routes was requested by truckers in order for their cargo trucks to reach their warehouses all over the metropolis,” Tolentino told reporters.
He said the last mile truck routes will be implemented from September 8 to 22.
Under the resolution signed by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), only port cargo trucks that will put out containers on Sunday, September 7 and September 14, will be allowed to use the routes.
Upon leaving the port area, the MMDA, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will issue trucks with a special sticker and stencil.
The pass will allow cargo trucks taking express trade lanes to complete the delivery of goods in case they are caught on the road outside their travel window.
“We will give them stickers so that truckers will be encouraged to work even on Sunday to deliver cargoes from pier to their warehouses,” said Tolentino.
Tolentino, however, said that there will be no tagging on Monday afternoon, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The “last mile routes” passes do not apply to EDSA where there is a total truck ban; España (from Quezon Boulevard to Rotonda); Ortigas (from Santolan to Legarda); and Taft Avenue where the 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. ban is in effect.
Only trucks with the MMDA tag can take advantage of the two-week implementation of the “last mile routes” approach.
Trucks who do not follow the measure will be fined with P5,000.
The MMDA said that in transportation, the ‘’last mile’’ refers to the movement of people and goods from a transport hub to its final destination.
From the point of view of truckers, this refers to the movement of trucks from the port to their warehouses inside and outside Metro Manila.