Next week, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will conduct a dry run on weighing overloaded trucks on 14 major roads in Metro Manila as part of its anti-overloading operations.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said the dry run will test their readiness and procedural operations.

The drive against overloaded trucks and vehicles, which have been cited as one of the major causes of road deterioration, will be implemented in full swing on February 1.

For the dry run, among the identified entry points are the Moriones Gate, Zaragoza Gate and Capulong near C-2 in North Harbor, 25th street, 8th Street and 2nd Street in South Harbor, MIA Road corner Coastal Road- Paranaque City, and Quirino Avenue-Las Piñas City.

Included are Manila South Road Viaduct-Muntinlupa City, Sumulong /Marcos Highway, Ortigas Extension, Commonwealth Avenue-Quezon City, San Jose-Novaliches Road (Quirino Highway)- Caloocan City and Mac Arthur Highway-Valenzuela City.

During the dry run, DPWH maintenance engineers together with representatives from the Land Transportation Office and the Philippine National Police will check the axle load of freight trucks and trailers using portable weighing scales.

If found overloaded, the team leader will issue a notice to the truck driver about the violation.

By next month, all vehicle violators found in excess of the maximum allowable gross vehicle weight (GVW) shall pay a penalty in the amount equivalent to 25 percent of the MVUC applicable to the vehicle at the time of apprehension.

The apprehended vehicle shall not be allowed to proceed on the roadway if its axle load exceeds the 13,500 kilograms or the vehicle load exceeds 150 percent of the maximum allowable GVW.

As provided under the provisions of RA 8794, the following are the allowable GVW: trucks with 2 axle (6 wheels)- 16,880 kgs; trucks with tandem rear axle/ 3 axles (10 wheels)- 27,250 kgs; trucks with tandem rear axle/ 4 axle (14 wheels)- 29,700 kgs; truck semi-trailer with 3 axles (10 wheels)- 30,380 kgs; truck semi-trailer with 4 axles (14 wheels)- 30,380 kgs; among others.

Singson held a public dialogue last month together with truckers/haulers and other private road sectors to inform them about DPWH measures against overloading vehicles.

"To save a huge amount of our national budget, we must strictly comply on what is provided by the law, so that we caN effectively utilize the government funds to build the needed infrastructure," he said.

He said road repair actually cost more for government than the funding that is provided for.

Compared to the P19-billion Asset Preservation Fund that DPWH receives through the collected charges under the MVUC, the actual needed budget to maintain and preserve the total of 30,000 kilometers of national roads is P40 billion.

Raymund Antonio, Manila Bulletin