Businessmen are asking for exemptions from the new truck ban to be implemented at the Bacolod City circumferential road from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting Monday, December 12.
The truck ban is being imposed to ease traffic in Bacolod City, especially over the holidays, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Wednesday.
Frank Carbon, executive director of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they are asking for a window between 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the regulated movement of trucks when traffic is not heavy.
Maj. Junji Liba, Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) head, said they cannot grant exemptions as it may set a precedent.
The mayor wants us to stick to the original plan, he said.
A meeting is set with the concerned sectors on Saturday, Liba said.
They still have to define what should be classified as essential goods that could be allowed passage, he said.
All cargo and delivery trucks will be allowed to pass through the Circumferential Road from Cegasco to Bata only from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting Monday, Liba announced on Wednesday.
The current Circumferential Road truck ban is from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., he said.
Exempted from the ban are firetrucks, police buses and military vehicles, trucks commandeered by the government for military relief or emergency purposes, those carrying persons needing immediate medical attention, garbage trucks, and government vehicles, he said.
Violators of the truck ban will be fined P1,000 for their first offense, second – P3,000 and third – P5,000, and drivers’ licenses will be confiscated, Liba said.*