CITY OF SAN FERNANDO (Aug. 9, 2022)—Pampanga Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda has prohibited the entry and passage of overloaded vehicles in Pampanga as he urged national departments to step up the enforcement of the Anti-Overloading Act in order to protect roads and bridges in the province.
The governor has requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation as well as their allied agencies like the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the police’s Highway Patrol Group (HPG) to strictly enforce Republic Act No. 8794 or the Anti-Overloading Law of 2000.
Known as “An Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle Users Charge on Owners of all Types of Motor Vehicle and for Other Purposes,” the law promotes motorist safety and prevents early deterioration of roads cause by overloading.
Parts of Pampanga are being used as alternate routes as the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Corp. enforced the 33-ton weight limit along the Candaba Viaduct since Aug. 1 while doing urgent repairs on it.
In a meeting on Tuesday, Governor Pineda said it was “high-time” to act together because the DPWH and local governments continue to allot funds for public infrastructures that are damaged in large parts by vehicles that carry loads beyond the allowable limits.
“Ang laki na ng mga damages sa province. Sobra na po ‘yung laki ng mga truck na dumadaan po sa atin. Mapapansin niyo po yung mga national roads even sa Porac, yearly na lang binibigyan ng DPWH ng pondo para sa rehabiliatation. Halos one to two years lang wasak na agad.Yung mga motorista naiistorbo, [nagiging] cause ng traffic, [nagiging] cause ng accident dahil sira-sira yung mga daan kaya kami sa Provincial Government ng Pampanga, nakipag-usap kami sa mga operators. Nagkasundo na po kami ng mga truckers na iimplement na po ‘yung batas,” Governor Pineda explained.
Beginning Aug. 2 when the governor suspended quarry operations for 15 days, truckers and haulers have voluntarily cut the sidings of their trucks to comply with the 33-ton weight limit imposed by NLEx Corp. on Candaba Viaduct.
As of August 9, at least 1,000 trucks have been cut to the heights and lengths allowed per vehicle category, according to KALAM (Kapampangan a Lulugud at Matapat).
To regulate vehicles, Governor Pineda said the provincial government will issue new hauling passes to vehicle owners who comply with guidelines imposed by the local government units in coordination with partner agencies.
Violators face a year of hauling suspension, he warned.
“Sana maintindihan niyo ho kami. Alam ko po na medyo tataas yung presyo sa Metro Manila. Puwede pong bumaba ‘yung income ng probinsya, pero kung pababayaan ko po ito, ‘yung resources naman po ng national government at perwisyo po na naibibigay sa mga taga- Pampanga, papaano naman po? We need to sacrifice in the province. Huwag po natin hayaan tuluyang masira ang mga daan at tulay natin, mas malaki pong damage ang ibibigay po sa ating ekonomiya kapag nasira po ang mga iyan,” he explained.
Engr. Rodolfo David, chief of the maintenance division of the DPWH in Central Luzon, thanked the governor for his initiative.
“Mapapangalagaan na natin ang mga kalsada at national roads para lalong tumagal at maging mas convenient para sa mga road users natin,” David said. END
