CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — After two (2) weeks of suspension, quarry operations in Pampanga resumed on Friday, August 19.
This came after the Provincial Government of Pampanga, headed by Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, issued on Thursday the first one hundred fifty (150) hauling pass stickers to trucks that met the weight requirement imposed by Republic Act No. 8794, also known as the “Anti-overloading Act.”
“Nagsimula na po ulit ang quarry operations, pero limited lang po ang mga trak na pwedeng kargahan. ‘Yon lang mga may hauling pass stickers ang pwedeng bumiyahe,” said Governor Delta, as he ushered the first batch of quarry trucks allowed to operate after the said suspension.
It can be recalled last August 2 that the governor announced the 2-week suspension of quarry operations in the province to give way for the cutting of sidings of the trucks used in transporting sand, gravel, and other quarry materials.
“Sa nakalipas na dalawang linggo, itinigil muna ang operasyon ng quarry sa probinsiya para bigyang-daan ang pagpuputol sa sidings ng mga quarry truck. Tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang ating pagtitimbang at pagpuputol nang sa gayon ay makuha natin ‘yung allowable gross vehicle weight,” said Governor Delta.
Initially, the governor allowed eight (8) among the first 150 accredited trucks to pass through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) on the first day of the resumption of quarry operations in the province.
He said, the quarry truckers and haulers in the province respect the decision of the NLEx Corporation to limit the vehicles entering the expressway to prevent further road damages.
“Bagaman kumikita ang probinsiya sa pagbubuhangin, kulang pa rin po ang kita na ‘to kumpara sa mga natatapon na pera taun-taon dahil sa mga nasisirang kalsada. Dahil dito, kailangan nating respetuhin talaga ‘yung ipinatutupad na weight limit,” said Governor Delta.
As per the rerouting plan of the NLEx Corp., vehicles with twelve (12) and more wheels and those with weight exceeding to thirty-three (33) tons will not be allowed to enter the Candaba Viaduct Southbound starting August 1 due to the ongoing upgrade of the bridge.
However, the NLEx Corp. stressed that vehicles with 10 and fewer wheels and a weight of less than 33 tons will still be allowed to pass the area.
“The NLEx Corp. wants to convey ‘yung appreciation po sa ginagawa ng Pampanga quarry operators by cutting po ‘yung kanilang sidings ng trucks in order to comply po rito sa weight limit po na tinatalaga po ng R.A. 8794. Malaking tulong po ito, sana po hinihiling natin na ‘yung ibang local government units ay sumunod na rin po para maging safe na ‘yung ating expressway. Ito pong mga 10-wheeler na naputulan na ng sidings, tuluy-tuloy nang makapapasok sa NLEx, hindi na po sila titimbangin, dahil accredited na ‘tong mga trucks na ‘to,” said Robin Ignacio, head of the NLEx Corp. Traffic Operations Department.
Lennard Lansang, president of the Porac Truckers and Haulers Association, Inc., expressed support to the strict enforcement of the Anti-overloading Act in the province.
“Nananawagan ako sa lahat ng truckers, Pampanga man o nationwide, sundin na lang natin ‘yung batas para ‘yung mga daan ay ma-preserve natin. Ito ho ay para sa ‘tin din naman, less maintenance at mas magkakaroon po tayo ng savings kaysa puro na lang sira ‘yung mga sasakyan natin,” said Lansang.
According to the report of K.A.L.A.M. as of August 18, a total of 2,006 trucks were already measured, 600 of which passed the inspection and are now recommended for accreditation.
Governor Delta also warned the truckers who will be caught violating the said Act.
“‘Yung ibang truckers, willing magbayad ng penalty kapag nahuli silang nag-overload. Pero ngayon, hindi lang gano’n ang mangyayari pagdating sa Pampanga, kailangan ninyong i-unload ‘yung sobrang timbang ninyo sa area kung saan kayo haharangin,” said the governor.
He also asked the cooperation of all the Kapampangans in reporting the trucks traveling around the province with high sidings and no hauling pass stickers. –Jasmine Jaso/Pampanga PIO
