CTAP president Ruperto Bayocot said the truck drivers and operators are already doing a big sacrifice by complying with the daytime truck ban along EDSA. The total ban, he added, will be a daily obstacle to truckers who need to deliver their cargoes to their destinations on time.

"At the moment, trucks are banned from traveling along EDSA during daytime. This has been imposed by the MMDA four years ago. Now the present MMDA administration wants to totally ban trucks from EDSA. That is ridiculous. How are truckers going to be able to deliver their goods to establishments along EDSA if there is a (total) ban? For those who depend on the EDSA route to get to where they're going, where are they supposed to pass once trucks are banned there?" he asked.

Bayocot said the total truck ban will have a significant effect on the forwarding industry in particular and the economy in general since "EDSA is a critical road network used by truck drivers to get to their destinations and deliver their goods."

Instead of implementing a total truck ban along EDSA, Bayocot urged the government to strictly implement the number coding scheme for buses and designate bus stops for buses of different routes.

"If you notice, buses occupy more than one lane in places where there are many passengers, thus blocking ongoing traffic.

Colorum buses should also be totally banned once caught and impounded permanently. The yellow lane should also be strictly enforced. Some buses still get away with changing lanes to those for private vehicles," he added.

Although CTAP is of the view that MMDA is on the right track in implementing a number coding scheme for buses, it is nevertheless adamant at the total truck ban proposal.

Kris Bayos, Manila Bulletin